By acreage, Animal Kingdom is the largest single Disney theme park in the world. It covers over 500 acres and serves as the home to approximately 1,500 specimens of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. As both a theme park and an accredited zoo, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is uniquely positioned to promote conservation efforts and encourage change. Here are just a few of the ways that Animal Kingdom may leave you seeing things in a new light.
1. Recycling throughout the parks
Animal Kingdom isn’t alone in providing ample opportunities for guests to recycle their trash. However, this park doesn’t just take your garbage off for recycling. It also features products that highlight just how these recycled items can be used. The benches are made from recycled plastic, so any time you break for a little rest, you can thank recycling efforts for the cozy spot you’ve found.
Animal Kingdom also features several souvenirs that are recycled. While these offerings change frequently, you may want to keep an eye open for paper made from elephant droppings, bracelets made from plastic bags, and animal figures made from recycled cans. Other purchases in Animal Kingdom may go to support Fair Trade or other initiatives.
2. Drinking a little different
You may notice that your drinks at Animal Kingdom look distinctly different. There are no plastic lids or straws anywhere in the park to protect the wildlife. If you must use a straw, you’ll discover a novel new option for sipping your beverage. The straws at Animal Kingdom are made from paper. While this does make them safer and more environmentally friendly, it can give your drink a bit of a cardboard flavor, so you may want to skip sipping altogether.
3. The Conservation Fund
The Disney World Conservation Fund has done incredible work for conservation worldwide. Guests at Animal Kingdom have the opportunity to donate to this fund with every purchase they make. In 2014 alone, the Conservation Fund awarded funds for dozens of projects including:
- Conserving Papua New Guineas Grasslands
- Coastwatch Grizzly Bear Monitoring Initiative
- Peninsular Bighorn Sheep Volunteer Count
- Restoring Habitat for Gopher Tortoises
- Guatemalan Endangered Reptile Awareness Program
- Conserving Venezuela’s Critically Endangered Bat
- Filipinos for Flying Foxes
- Enhancing Recovery of Threatened Corals
- Future Farmers of Africa
- Building Communities that Conserve Wetlands
4. Endangered species re-introduction
Disney’s Animal Kingdom participated in the reintroduction of white rhinos in Uganda. The first white rhino birth in the park took place in 2006. This and another white rhino were transported to Uganda’s Ziwi Animal Sanctuary for gradual re-introduction into their natural habitat. White rhinos had previously been completely extinct in the area. In 2009, that baby rhino was full grown and had a baby of her own. This birth was the first for the species in Uganda in 25 years.
5. Species breeding programs
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). As such, it participates many projects designed to promote the safe management of animal species. Animal Kingdom is part of 34 Species Survival Plans. These managed breeding programs organized by the AZA strive to restore depleted animal populations.
6. Outstanding veterinary care
The veterinary hospital at Disney’s Animal Kingdom provides care to all the animals on property – both inside Animal Kingdom and elsewhere. If you’re there at the right time, you may even witness vets providing care for some of the animals that live here. Conservation Station literally offers a window into the backstage workings of the park.
Animal Program veterinarians at Animal Kingdom may spend most of their time doing routine procedures, but they’ve also done some out-of-the-ordinary work, including giving a fish an artificial eye, and removing a golf ball from a native snake found on a Disney golf course.
7. Education on a grand scale
The biggest difference between Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the other parks on property is its approach to the attractions. While rides and shows in other parks are primarily designed to provide a good time, those at Animal Kingdom always carry a deeper message. This park strives to make education and conservation entertaining, so it can spread the message to guests in an engaging manner that will really hit home.
If you pay attention, you’ll note that the attractions at Animal Kingdom nearly always spread a message about how important conservation is. On Kali River Rapids, you learn about the hazards of deforestation. Kilimanjaro Safaris, though watered down in its more recent incarnation, is the story of how dangerous poaching is in Africa. Even It’s Tough to Be a Bug encourages you to be a little kinder to buggy friends.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom strives to provide guests with an experience that, while entertaining, will also change the way they look at the world and encourage them to act as responsible stewards of future generations.
