The Mandrill family seen on the Savannah at Disney’s Animal Kingdom just got a little larger, with newborn Ivy being welcomed to the world on April 10th, to first-time mom Hazel and dad Linus, and the rest of her family, Olive, Scarlett, Snow and Hazel.
What’s Happening:
- It’s a girl! A female baby mandrill, seen here bonding with first-time mom Hazel, was born April 10, 2021, at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, FL.
- Guests may catch a glimpse of mom and the healthy newborn, named Ivy, while onboard the park’s Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction.
- Mandrills typically have a six-month gestation period. In the mandrill social structure, females take on the majority of parental responsibilities, including grooming, nursing, and carrying the young. When you spot the mandrills, you may see them grooming one another, a behavior that promotes social bonding.
- Ivy weighed in between 1-2 pounds, even though mandrills are actually the largest species of monkey. They’re also a vulnerable species found in African rainforests along the equator where their habitat is disappearing because of deforestation and poaching.
- With this birth, the troop at Disney’s Animal Kingdom now includes four generations of mandrills from the same family, mirroring the social system of mandrills found in the wild. This birth is the latest example of how Disney animal care experts partner with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on Species Survival Plans to ensure responsible breeding for endangered species.
- Recently, Disney’s Animal Kingdom welcomed the first calf in five years in the white Rhino herd, Ranger. At four months old, he made his debut on the savannah, eager to explore his new environment, plunging right into the mud alongside his mother, Kendi, for a good wallow before running around to see all the new savanna sights. This rambunctious rhino calf made fast friends with his “aunties” Lola and Jao, and mom Kendi kept close by to make sure Ranger stayed out of trouble. Of course, such an adventurous morning requires lots of energy, so there was plenty of nursing and napping going on, too.
Laughing Place recommends MouseFanTravel.com for all your Walt Disney World travel planning
Fill out the form below for a free,
no obligation quote from MouseFanTravel.com