Regardless of the wonder and grandeur of the park, in addition to Disney’s conservation efforts, Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park made the record of “Worst Locations for Elephants,” which leaves us questioning what went mistaken at Disney’s fourth theme park, because it pertains to these majestic animals.
Animal Kingdom on the Walt Disney World Resort has been making the headlines for years. A Visitor-favorite attraction on the park, Primeval Whirl, all of a sudden closed in early 2020 and was then fully demolished in late 2021. Each January, the Kali River Rapids attraction closes for upkeep and repairs–an identical premise Friends have heard a number of months earlier than their favourite attraction all of a sudden closes endlessly– leaving many Friends to marvel if this time would be the time Kali doesn’t reopen.
On the 2022 D23 Expo, Disney’s President of Parks, Merchandise, and Experiences shared minimal particulars about plans for a revamping of the Dinoland, U. S. A. part of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and just lately, there’s speak of Animal Kingdom closing its gates forever, as some cite the park’s excessive working prices and less-than-desirable attendance ranges.
RELATED: Dinoland, U.S.A. Spot at Animal Kingdom is Now Extinct, Gone Forever
However this isn’t the primary season of less-than-optimal information for Disney World’s fourth theme park–not by an extended shot.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is residence to lots of of species of animals, and the Forged Members and veterinary care workers on the park have taken care of the animals for 1 / 4 of a century. However that doesn’t imply the day-to-day operations have been with out challenge–and typically these points had been main ones.
In 2014, Animal Kingdom made the record of “Worst Zoos for Elephants,” securing the #10 spot on the record, compiled by a non-profit group known as In Protection of Animals, after an expectant elephant died as soon as she was transferred from Animal Kingdom to the since-closed Nationwide Elephant Middle, a nonprofit elephant sanctuary in Fellsmere, Florida, practically 100 miles from the Walt Disney World Resort.
Credit score: Nationwide Elephant Middle/Fellsmere
Throughout the previous yr, Disney’s crew at Animal Kingdom transfered a complete of 4 elephants to the Nationwide Elephant Middle. Two of these elephants died as nicely. In July of that yr, the pregnant pachyderm named Moyo and her unborn calf died from issues from start. A ten-year-old male elephant named Tufani died after he was transferred to the elephant sanctuary because of a salmonella an infection.
Per the Orlando Sentinel:
A board member for the Nationwide Elephant Middle, which has Disney ties, stated final yr the elephants had been moved as a result of the older females within the group had been making an attempt to maneuver Tufani out of the herd as he was rising up. The sanctuary was seen as a spot that might assist him modify. Additionally, the board member stated Disney wanted extra room to accommodate different animals it needed to usher in.
In Protection of Animals, the nonprofit group that compiled the record of the worst zoos for elephants stated in a press release that “Zoos typically don’t switch pregnant females due to the nice stress of journey and potential issues, but [Disney’s Animal Kingdom] trucked Moyo–who additionally reportedly had a ‘uncommon hormonal challenge’–to this unproven Florida heart. . . This illustrates how zoo transfers are sometimes made with little to no regard for the bodily, psychological, and social results on elephants, or, apparently on this case, the well being of a pregnant mom and her child.”
Disney issued no remark upon the group’s launch of the record.
