Menu

Meet the Adorable New Animals Now Calling Animal Kingdom Home!

Two Disney characters dressed as explorers stand cheerfully outside a rustic building. The character on the left wears a green safari outfit, and the one on the right wears a beige explorer outfit with a hat. Trees and a wooden structure are in the background.
Credit: Disney

When Animal Kingdom opened at the Walt Disney World Resort in 1998, it quickly became one of the most incredible and unique zoos in the state. Yes, it has roller coasters, character dining, and stage shows, but it is still technically considered a zoo. Guests visiting the stunning theme parks can see so many wondering animals during their trip, including Sumatran tigers, Silverback gorillas, elephants, rhinos, giraffes, Ankole cattle, and much more!

While the most popular attraction for animal lovers is probably Kilimanjaro Safaris, there are a ton of quiet walking trails where you can see the animals and enjoy just watching them interact with each other.

A baby elephant walks alongside an adult elephant in an outdoor enclosure with trees, large rocks, and greenery in the background. The baby elephant is following the adult, who is holding some greenery in its trunk.

Credit: Disney

Related: Disney Fans Want Closed Animal Kingdom Ride to Reopen In Hollywood Studios

Guests visiting Animal Kingdom love meandering along spots like the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, enjoying the Oasis Exhibits, and keeping their eyes peeled on the Discovery Island Trails.

If you pay attention, you might see some flamingos, kangaroos, lemurs, Tamarin monkeys, vultures, and maybe even an anteater.

One of the highlights for many people is the otter grotto, where they can watch the adorable (but ferocious) little mammals dart around in the water and enjoy time in their habitat.

Cotton-Top Tamarin Monkey at Animal Kingdom

Credit: Disney

Related: Fans Predict Cancellation of Major Animal Kingdom Project

And soon, guests will be able to see some delightful new additions to the Otter Grove!

Disney’s Vice President: Animals, Science, and Environment, Mark Penning, announced the arrival of a litter of Asian small-clawed otter pups, and we are already in love with them!

Mae, an Asian small-clawed otter mom, recently welcomed a litter of pups at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. 🦦🐾 As the smallest otter species, these pups are already showing their unique charm. As you can see from these photos, mom is taking care of the otter pups backstage when they are not napping. The dad, Kevin, is also actively involved in the process of taking care of these new additions. Over the next few months, they will reach key milestones, like opening their eyes, trying solid foods, and learning to swim. The animal care team is closely watching their progress as they grow. Look for these pint-sized pups on Discovery Island soon!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Dr. Mark Penning (@drmarkatdisney)

Related: A Rare Birth Takes Place Inside Disney’s Animal Kingdom!

We do not know exactly when these otters will venture out and be able to be seen by Disney guests, but based on the post, it will not be any time soon. Disney wants the parents to bond with their pups and will not bring the pups out until they are completely healthy and old enough. Looking at the photo shared by Dr. Mark, it appears that there were three pups in this new litter.

Last year, Animal Kingdom had some amazing births, including a baby elephant named Corra and an endangered Sumatran tiger named Basko.

Disney puts a lot of time, money, and research into its conservation efforts and works with facilities around the world to help raise the population numbers of animals like Basko. If you would like to donate to the Disney Conservation Fund, you can do so by clicking here.

What is your favorite animal to see while visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.