LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Disney’s Animal Kingdom recently debuted its newest cutie — a baby giraffe named Ivy.
- Ivy recently made her first appearance on the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna.
- A few months after her April birth, she shot up from 6 feet to 7-1/2 feet tall.
- She spent her first two months bonding backstage with her mother before transitioning to the main habitat.
- Disney says her birth is a major conservation “win.” That’s because Masai giraffes are classified as endangered, with only about 30,000 left in the wild. We caught up with one of two animal keepers designated to Ivy, animal keeper Derra Leonard. “Building that relationship and that bond … because she is a little nervous and shy … getting that trust and getting her to get used to [me] is super exciting,” Leonard said. “We have lots of growing to do.”
- Guests taking a ride on the Kilimanjaro Safaris attraction can spot Ivy roaming the Harambe Wildlife Reserve during normal theme park hours. As for her name, the animal care team narrowed a list of 12 potential choices. Disney cast members voted and chose the name Ivy to match the botanical theme of her mother, Willow.
Allison Walker
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