Two New Babies at Disney's Animal Kingdom

WaltsApprentice

New Member
Original Poster
http://allearsnet.com/news/hnews.htm#031308

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]It's a Girl! And a Boy! [/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]LAKE BUENA VISTA , Fla. , March 13, 2008 -- Disney's animal care team has been busy over the past two weeks with the births of two new bundles of joy -- a female baby giraffe named Makena and a male baby zebra named Kidani.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Born on March 8, Kidani is the first Hartmann's Mountain Zebra born at Walt Disney World Resort. The Hartmann's Mountain Zebra is an endangered species native to Angola, Namibia and South Africa. Kidani was bred through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Plan, which is a consortium of zoos and wildlife parks working together to conserve and breed animals.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Kidani was named for the new expansion of Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, which will be named Kidani Village. The zebra currently weighs approximately 65 pounds and stands three and a half feet tall. Kidani's been known to kick up his heels and run around the yard, with his watchful mother Kari, nearby. As an adult male, Kidani could reach 800 pounds, and stand five feet tall. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Makena, which means "Happy One" in Swahili is the female giraffe born on Leap Day, February 29. At birth, she weighed 118 pounds and stood five feet, six inches tall. Makena was standing just one-and-a-half hours after birth and started nursing shortly after. Makena is the first calf for her mother, four-year-old Malaika, who was born at Disney's Animal Kingdom. When Makena grows up, she could be as tall as 15 feet. She is the eighth giraffe born at Disney since Disney's Animal Kingdom opened in 1998. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Both mothers and babies are doing well and are expected to rejoin their herds on the savannah at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge in the coming weeks.[/FONT]​

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]BACKGROUND[/FONT]​
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Giraffes [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The typical gestation period for a giraffe is approximately 15 months. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]An adult giraffe's neck alone can measure up to seven-feet, and their tongues can be as long as 18 inches.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Giraffes also have their own set of unique skin markings, similar to a human fingerprint. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Zebras[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]The typical gestation period for a zebra is approximately 12 months. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Similar to the giraffe, each zebra has a unique coat pattern that herd members use to identify one another. One of the identifying characteristics of the mountain zebra is that their stripes do not meet under the belly, which is white with a central black stripe. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Hartmann's Mountain Zebras are also prone to frequent dust baths once or twice daily and are sure footed on rocky or rugged surfaces. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney Animal Kingdom's breeding program[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Giraffes and zebras at the Walt Disney World Resort are bred through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Population Management Plan, which is a consortium of zoos and wildlife parks working together to conserve and breed animals. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park and Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge are accredited by the AZA. With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation.[/FONT]

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This is why I love DAK and the Walt Disney Company so much...and there contuning decation to Animals and the environment...no matter how many people deny it! :) Click on the article and you can see some great pictures of both the new babies!!:)
 

Craig & Lisa

Active Member
I know there is a certain amount of time before they release them to their repective areas, but is it possible they may be out there by the week of March 23rd? We will be at the AKLV that week and it would be a real treat for our Grand Gathering then. :D:sohappy: Not much longer, but this week is going to drag along soooooooo much.:zipit:
 

WaltsApprentice

New Member
Original Poster
I know there is a certain amount of time before they release them to their repective areas, but is it possible they may be out there by the week of March 23rd? We will be at the AKLV that week and it would be a real treat for our Grand Gathering then. :D:sohappy: Not much longer, but this week is going to drag along soooooooo much.:zipit:

HAHAHA... Well your right, it is long period, I believe 3 to 4 weeks possibly. I'll ask my sources if they know anything more. On your grand gathering though sign up for the DAK Lodge Safari at sunset or I think there is one for sunrise. Its great because you get to see all the animals some that you may have not noticed...for example I never knew there were pigs out there...they were kinda cute too. Also they take you back and show you some of the barn areas...you don't get to walk through them but you get to see their locations and some of the animals that are near them. And you may get a chance to see the new babies! I should stop by there when I'm in April to see if they are out by then :)
 

Disneykidder

Well-Known Member
First off, those animals are sooo cute!! I love animals and baby ones are even better. When we were there in August, we saw a couple of small giraffes and they were so adorable.

Secondly, I totally agree. DAK really cares for the animals there and I have no doubt that they are going to take awesome care of these 2 newbies!!:)

Thanks for the sweet post!!:sohappy:
 

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