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When Walt Disney World Resort visitors prepare for their Florida vacations, they usually have roller coasters and Character Meet and Greets on their minds — but any Animal Kingdom enthusiast also knows that there are many beautiful (and often, sadly, endangered) species to be seen in the Disney Parks!
If you’re a frequent Animal Kingdom visitor who gravitates towards this Disney theme park and loves paying a visit to Rafiki’s Planet Watch for some behind-the-scenes looks at the conservation and rehabilitation efforts happening in Disney World, then you may already know that Disney World is home to several struggling species.
Congrats to the Happy Couple
We have seen happy news coming from the Animal Kingdom about everything from rhinos to okapis in recent months, as endangered species give birth to healthy and happy young on Disney property, and now a particularly rare birth has just occurred!
Two cotton-top tamarin monkeys — which are very endangered — have just greeted their twin offspring on Animal Kingdom property.
There are now two four-inch monkeys clinging to their parents in their exhibit, and even though these baby monkeys are very cute (as shown in the images below), they are also a crucial sign of progress for the imperiled species!
Credit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World via fox35orlando.com
You’re Expecting…Twins!
According to a Disney press release shared by Fox 35 Orlando, “Disney’s animal care team is ecstatic about these two as they are the first cotton-top tamarin births at Walt Disney World since 2001.”
“As first-time parents, both mom and dad are doing great, sharing the parenting duties,” Disney added in the press release.
Even though these twin cotton-top tamarin babies are uncommon, their twin status is actually very common.
This monkey species does normally give birth to twins — but because there are only an estimated 7,500 of these monkeys left outside of captivity, their birth is still a very big deal!
Credit: Aaron Wockenfuss/Walt Disney World via fox35orlando.com
Progress Beyond Disney’s Borders
According to Fox 35 Orlando, “these creatures are critically endangered due to the illegal pet trade and extensive deforestation and loss of habitat.”
Disney has been working in tandem with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan to help species like this one return from the edge of extinction.
Disney has also been trying to help wild cotton-top tamarins by working with Proyecto Tití in Columbia, where “Disney has helped more than 180 local farmers to establish conservation forest corridors, protect more than 5,500 hectares of forest, and plant more than 100,000 trees”.
Is the Animal Kingdom your favorite theme park in Walt Disney World Resort? Do you enjoy seeing species from across the world there and helping to support endangered species by visiting their exhibits, or are Disney’s rides and non-animal attractions still your main focus?
