The baby male Masai giraffe born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in January has made his official debut on the Kilimanjaro Safari savanna. Disney Parks Blog shared pictures of the young calf and his mother, and announced his name.
What’s happening:
- The Disney Parks Blog revealed new photos of the male Masai giraffe making his debut on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
- Born on the savanna on January 14, the young giraffe has been “bold, curious and courageous… and to celebrate his spirit, he has been given a very special name – Jabari, which means ‘brave one’ in Swahili.”
- Jabari has grown to seven-feet-tall, and has spent the past few months bonding with his mom Mara in a backstage habitat.
- Jabari has several special distinctions; he is the first giraffe calf to be born on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and he has a special heart-shaped spot on his neck.
- True to his name, Jabari has quickly reached all his key developmental milestones, clearing him to return to Kilimanjaro Safari savanna to officially join the rest of the giraffe herd.
- Here’s a look at Jabari’s debut.
- Disney’s animal care team typically is given the honor of naming baby animals but this time the naming choice went to the safari drivers because they played such an important role in keeping guests calm during Jabari’s birth.
- Several of the drivers were on hand this morning to see Jabari in stride, which left them smiling and beaming with pride.
Did you know?:
- Jabari’s parents, Mara and George, were chosen to breed through the Species Survival Plan (SSP), which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and ensures responsible breeding of threatened and endangered species, thereby ensuring healthy, future generations.
- Jabari is following in the hoofsteps of his sisters Amira and Aella, two young female giraffe calves who were born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom last year.
- The Masai giraffe, found primarily in Kenya and Tanzania, is one of nine types of giraffe and is a vulnerable species. There are believed to be roughly 32,000 Masai giraffes left in the wild, and their population continues to decline due in part to poaching and habitat loss.
All photos courtesy of Walt Disney World; David Roark, photographer
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