Photos: New Baby Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge and Theme Park
If you’re visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge or Animal Kingdom theme park in the near future, you might want to keep a lookout for a few new babies who have recently joined the savanna. Since we like to focus on the resort hotels, I thought we’d take a look at the newest additions there first. For starters, a male Nyala calf named Parker is now calling the lodge’s savannas home.
Per the Disney Parks Blog announcement, Nyala calves are born with white stripes and spots that help them blend into tall grass, and as he grows, Parker will develop a darker coat and the iconic spiral horns that make male nyalas so distinctive. Here are a few photos of the young calf.
In addition to Parker, a couple of Red River hog piglets are now part of the savanna habitat at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. These little ones go by the names of Mason, Cooper, and Phillip, who were born to proud mom Clementine. Then, Demi, pictured separately, is the daughter of Persimmon.
Next, we have Mabel, who is the first Ankole calf born at Walt Disney World in over 20 years. It’s hard to believe that the tiny calf will someday be as big as her mom with those massive horns!
Last but not least, we’ll hop over to Disney’s Animal Kingdom, where we find a Masai giraffe calf that was born earlier this month! The female calf arrived at nearly six feet tall, weighing approximately 120 pounds. The photo below shows sweet mom Willow caring for her baby.
The Disney Parks Blog notes her birth as a momentous occasion. Masai giraffes are classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with an estimated 30,000 remaining worldwide.
Through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, Disney works with experts to help care for giraffes and support a healthy population for generations to come.
Behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the animal care team is keeping a close eye on her growth and milestones. “She’s already had her first checkup and is doing great, so mom is happily in charge,” said Bri, an animal keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “Right now, she’s rarely far from her side, following her around the barn, exploring her surroundings, and learning something new every day.”
For now, the calf is spending time backstage with mom Willow. Before long, guests will be able to spot her stretching her long legs on Kilimanjaro Safaris as she joins the rest of the herd this summer, including fan favorite Tucker (her half‑brother!), who was born in 2025.
Excerpt from Disney Parks Blog
In the Comments
I don’t know about you, but I’m excited to see some of these new baby animals on our next visit. Is there one in particular you’ll be happy to see? If so, let us know which one below in the comments.
