3 New Lion Siblings Join the Harambe Wildlife Reserve at Disney's Animal Kingdom

If you’re visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom, keep an eye out for three new lions. The trio is named Mshango, Zahara, and Neema, and guests can see them on Kilimanjaro Safaris. These young lions will be a sight to see!

three new lion siblings at Disney's Animal Kingdom — ©Disney

Disney’s press release shares more details about the lion siblings and efforts to protect the lion population.

There’s a new pride on the savanna, sitting atop the highest point, overlooking the lush sun-kissed Harambe Wildlife Reserve at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Meet siblings Mshango, Zahara and Neema, three lions bringing their vibrant energy as they join the savanna this week. These young and regal lions are already making their roars heard and showing guests their playful and cub-like spirit on the Kilimanjaro Safaris.

These majestic and curious cats are exploring their new habitat just weeks before The Walt Disney Studios’ newest live action film, Mufasa: The Lion King, will debut on the big screen, sharing the power of nature with millions of viewers around the world. This inspiration will extend beyond the theater, reaching the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and energizing a deeper connection to the wild. The film highlights the importance of preserving the natural habitats that lions, like Mufasa, call home.

As part of Disney’s ongoing conservation efforts and in celebration of Disney’s Mufasa: The Lion King opening exclusively in theaters on December 20, we’re proud to relaunch the global “Protect the Pride” conservation campaign to support the Wildlife Conservation Network’s Lion Recovery Fund (LRF) and LRF’s partners working across Africa to double the number of lions in the wild by 2050.

Learn more about Disney’s commitment to “Protect the Pride” at Disney.com/MufasaProtectThePride. Because when we protect lions, we protect the circle of life.

Mshango, Zahara, and Neema represent an important part of the future of the lion population. In time, they could breed with members of another pride as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is designed to ensure the responsible breeding and genetic diversity of animal populations, many of which are threatened or endangered in the wild.

As they make their new home around the kopjes rocks on Kilimanjaro Safaris, we look forward to sharing more of their adventures and their lives on the savanna.

Disney Press Release December 5, 2024

For more new animals in the park, check out our preview of baby animals born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. For more attractions in this park, see our list of rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Or, for other parks, see our Disney World Rides and Attractions guide. It links to attraction guides for all four theme parks.

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