Disney's Animal Kingdom® Park News from Disney's Animal Kingdom

2 Pieces of 2024 News Worth Mentioning:

On May 2nd, it was announced that the theme park transferred a (1.0) okapi named Elombe to the Potter Park Zoo in Michigan.

Potter Park Zoo

On June 6th, it was announced that the theme park transferred a (1.0) grey-crowned crane to the Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo in Florida.

47K views · 623 reactions | Will this newcomer win the heart of our female East African crowned crane? | A Disney facility in Orlando, FL. brought over a 10-year-old East-African crowned crane to be a potential mate for our 28-years-young female, Jane. Not... | By Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo | Facebook

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On October 30th, the theme park announced that a Henkel's leaf-tailed gecko hatched, the first time since 2020.

Disney's Animals, Science and Environment
 
USZOOfan42 said:
The good thing is that Disney isn’t the best at communicating so maybe we will see something.
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I think this is because in the past Disney has had plenty of projects across the company that have been announced and that have been canceled. I’ve heard they’ve wanted to work on that in recent years, and it wouldn’t help their cause if they announced they were getting live animals only for them to not be able to acquire them, budgeting restrictions, or just them replacing possible exhibits with something else. I’m sure we’ll get more information on the entire area after construction begins next year (Fingers Crossed!)
 
Austin the Sengi said:
For those who don’t know, it appears that (1.0) Marley the American Crocodile’s new home seems to be the St. Augustine Alligator Farm.
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Thanks for confirming Marley's transfer location.

At least he is in a good place for crocodilians and the focus of the Alligator Farm is on conservation. Remember, even in the US ... the population is very much threatened .... and not secure (significant annual mortality and especially road kill).

Link:
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
 
After ruling over their home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for over a decade. The park announced the official retirement of their iconic pair of lions, and will continue to live out their lives at a new AZA facility in Florida.

Personally, I am saddened to see my favorite lioness and her partner leaving the kingdom for good; but I’m glad they will be going to a wonderful place for the rest of their days*. However, in more optimistic news, the park will eventually receive a new trio of lions that are confirmed to be siblings. At the time of this announcement, Disney did not specify as to when their current pair will leave and when the new lions will move in.

(*pun intended)
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
After ruling over their home at Disney’s Animal Kingdom for over a decade. The park announced the official retirement of their iconic pair of lions, and will continue to live out their lives at a new AZA facility in Florida.

Personally, I am saddened to see my favorite lioness and her partner leaving the kingdom for good; but I’m glad they will be going to a wonderful place for the rest of their days*. However, in more optimistic news, the park will eventually receive a new trio of lions that are confirmed to be siblings. At the time of this announcement, Disney did not specify as to when their current pair will leave and when the new lions will move in.

(*pun intended)
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If I were to guess (and I am!) it sounds like a swap with Brevard Zoo who has a trio of brothers and just finished their new lion habitat.
 
 
StoppableSan said:
When they just moved into the new space? Not likely.
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Why? The zoo made a space for lions, it did not necessarily make a space for those lions, long term it would be used for different lions.

There are not a lot of AZA zoos in Florida set up for a pair of aged lions, and even less zoos with a trio of siblings. Off the top of my head I can't think of any AZA zoos in FL that have space, maybe Busch since they moved out a pride? But they still would have to rotate prides like they used to in one habitat if they brought the aged pair in.
 
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Austin the Sengi said:
Also @SwampDonkey, the lions that are planned to move in are a male and two females. So no, it wouldn’t be the brothers from Brevard stated above.

Furthermore, my details about the lion siblings are emphasized better in the North American Lion thread for additional context.
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AH, OK, if the trio are males and females then you are correct - it can't be Brevard's. I am more interested in where in Florida the two will go, as I mentioned there just are not many places set up for a new pair of lions. Busch can house more, they did until last year, but it is not an ideal situation.
 
SwampDonkey said:
AH, OK, if the trio are males and females then you are correct - it can't be Brevard's. I am more interested in where in Florida the two will go, as I mentioned there just are not many places set up for a new pair of lions. Busch can house more, they did until last year, but it is not an ideal situation.
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One possibility is a place like White Oak Conservancy in Yulee, FL, an AZA facility that is not open to the public.
 
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