DAK is a unique mix of theme park and zoo, but the theme park portion absolutely takes precedence. If you go into it with that expectation it can be very enjoyable. As @TinoPup pointed out there are several exhibits spread across the park and most do not require a wait and if you plan it right, you can do the Safari without a wait either. It would be very hard to suggest visiting the park as a standalone zoo, but if you're already taking a trip to Disney World DAK is absolutely worth visiting and planning an animal day (or at least a few hours).I'd imagine a large proportion of the forum members don't give DAK a second's thought.
From reading the previous comments, though, it sounds like an awful zoo experience. Waiting in a line for over an hour just to begin to see common zoo animals? And it's just a ride as well? Not a difficult decision from me to skip it for something more enjoyable.
Maryland Zoo has no lion-tailed macaques.Cincinnati has already disposed of their last remaining macaques, and their exhibit is now home to their last three Gray's crowned guenons. I am unsure as to whether or not they'd ever be interested in going back into the species or not.
The current state of lion-tailed macaques in the United States is as follows:
Maryland Zoo: 1.1
Baton Rouge Zoo: 1.0
Riverbanks Zoo and Gardens: 1.0
Disney's Animal Kingdom: 1.3
El Paso Zoo: 0.3
Hattiesburg Zoo: 1.2
Jackson Zoo: 1.0
Kansas City Zoo: 1.2
Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo: 1.1
Prospect Park Zoo: 2.0
San Diego Zoo: 2.6
Woodland Park Zoo: 1.2
Reid Park Zoo: 1.1
I echo the opinion of those posts before mine, and I, too, am very glad to see continued interest in this endangered, charismatic, and unique species that is a perfect representative of an equally unique environment.
Will Sohni have 24/7 access to both habitats with Anala leaving? And when will Anala leave? I;l miss her, it’s been fun watching her grow up over the last few yearsUpdate: With Anala's scheduled departure, the Sumatran Tiger exhibits will be undergoing a soft refurbishment (Painting, cleaning, etc.) scheduled to start Monday for an unknown duration. Still no official word on if/when a male will be transferred for breeding with Sohni
You can do safari first thing in the morning to avoid wait or get Lightning Lane.DAK is a unique mix of theme park and zoo, but the theme park portion absolutely takes precedence. If you go into it with that expectation it can be very enjoyable. As @TinoPup pointed out there are several exhibits spread across the park and most do not require a wait and if you plan it right, you can do the Safari without a wait either. It would be very hard to suggest visiting the park as a standalone zoo, but if you're already taking a trip to Disney World DAK is absolutely worth visiting and planning an animal day (or at least a few hours).
You forgot 2 Miniature Donkey and 1 Pineywoods Cow. And where is the damaraland mole rat located, and why is there only one since they are social? I have never seen itHere's all of the species from the inspections, since it's harder to track things at this place (and it gets less visits due to cost).
Lodge
Addax - 8
Cattle - 6
Eland, Common - 5
Gazelle, Thomson's - 1
Giraffe - 10
Impala - 18
Kudu, Lesser - 3
Nyala - 7
Okapi - 3
Red River Hog - 8
Roan - 4
Sitatunga - 3
Springbok - 4
Steenbok - 3
Waterbuck - 11
Wildebeest, Brindled - 11
Zebra, Mountain - 8
Zebra, quagga - 2
Park
Ungulates
Alpaca - 1
Babirusa - 4
Blackbuck - 6
Bongo - 6
Bontebok - 1
Buffalo, Asiatic Water - 6
Cattle - 5
Deer, Eld's - 1
Duiker, YB - 2
Eland, Common - 2
Giraffe - 8
Goat, Domestic - 26
Hippopotamus - 11
Kudu, Greater - 3
Muntjac, Reeve's - 1
Okapi - 3
Oryx, Scimitar - 3
Pig, Domestic - 2
Red River Hog - 1
Sable - 4
Sheep, Domestic - 6
Springbok - 11
Rhino, Black - 2
Rhino, White - 9
Warthog - 3
Waterbuck - 3
Wildebeest, Brindle - 16
Zebra, Grevy's - 4
Zebra, Mountain - 7
Carnivores
Cheetah - 5
Dog, African Wild - 6
Hyena, Spotted - 2
Lion - 3
Meerkat - 6
Otter, ASC - 7
Tiger - 2
Primates
Colobus, Angolan - 5
Gibbon, White-cheeked - 3
Gorilla - 12
Lemur, Brown - 2
Lemur, Ringtailed - 2
Macaque, Lion-tailed - 3
Mandrill - 11
Siamang - 2
Tamarin, Cotton-top - 2
Tamarin, Golden Lion - 2
Rodents
Agouti, Brazilian - 2 (probably red rumped)
Mole-rat, Damaraland - 1
Mole-rat, Naked - 51
Mouse, Cairo Spiny - 3
Opossum, VA - 1
Porcupine, Cape - 3
Porcupine, NA - 1
Porcupine, Prehensile-tailed - 2
Others
Aardvark - 2
Anteater, GIant - 2
Armadillo, Screaming - 1
Flying Fox, Large - 11
Elephant, African - 9
Kangaroo, Red - 3
Kangaroo, Western Grey - 3
Tenrec, Lesser Madagascar - 9
Wallaby, Tammar - 2
Maryland Zoo has no lion-tailed macaques.
The male from Disney’s Animal Kingdom died a few years back, now they are left with three females.
You forgot 2 Miniature Donkey and 1 Pineywoods Cow. And where is the damaraland mole rat located, and why is there only one since they are social? I have never seen it
There is only one female giant anteater, Annie. There have never been two
As of last December there were 8 sheep left, the others died of old age. Is this list from 2022? If so it’s possible, two sheep died this year. All are well over 10 years old. And most of the goats are newer additions, there are only 3(2.1) left from the old herd, there were around 10-15 from the old herd a few years ago.
Doubtful. The yards are currently under a soft refurbishment and should reopen later this month. Hopefully at that time DAK will have a new tiger that may be a mate for Sohni as I am sure she would have bred again if Melosi hadn't passedWill Sohni have 24/7 access to both habitats with Anala leaving? And when will Anala leave? I;l miss her, it’s been fun watching her grow up over the last few years
Melosi never passed, he moved on to another zoo.Doubtful. The yards are currently under a soft refurbishment and should reopen later this month. Hopefully at that time DAK will have a new tiger that may be a mate for Sohni as I am sure she would have bred again if Melosi hadn't passed
Proof? I know for a fact that he's not at any other AZA zoo or sustainability partner facility as he was not listed in the latest Breeding and Transfer Plan and I doubt they would send him out of the SSP population.Melosi never passed, he moved on to another zoo.
When I went in December 2021 that is what they told me.Proof? I know for a fact that he's not at any other AZA zoo or sustainability partner facility as he was not listed in the latest Breeding and Transfer Plan and I doubt they would send him out of the SSP population.
When I went in December 2021 that is what they told me.
When I went in December 2021 that is what they told me.
Zoos sometimes aren't upfront about animals passing because it involves death, it's easier to say they moved on. Especially somewhere like a Disney park, where death kills the "magic".
Zoos sometimes aren't upfront about animals passing because it involves death, it's easier to say they moved on. Especially somewhere like a Disney park, where death kills the "magic".
As @TinoPup indicated, Disney is not forthcoming with information. @Zoofan15 gave a perfect example. That foal could have been Dash or Zarina. No official confirmation has been released and likely never will be. The source listed by @Elena is going to be as official as we will get from Disney. A friend of mine is at DAK weekly and I am there monthly. We both share a lot of DAK content on Instagram. By virtue of this, we have both become familiar with some of the keepers and thus are told information that isn't told to normal guests.When I went in December 2021 that is what they told me.