BAY LAKE, Fla. – Guests riding Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom can now spot a new “little” face on the savanna: Ivy, a baby Masai giraffe born in April to mom Willow.
Central Florida Insider was invited to witness Ivy’s first steps on the savanna Thursday morning, June 11. Animal keepers said the calf — just over two months old — has been spending her first weeks behind the scenes with Willow and the giraffe herd before making her public debut.
“This is Ivy’s first day out on the savanna,” said Derra Leonard, an animal keeper at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. “She just turned two months and one day today.”
Leonard said Ivy’s debut is a major milestone, with the calf adjusting not only to wide-open space and new herd dynamics but also to other species on the savanna and the Safari trucks carrying guests through the habitat.
“She was a little shy,” Leonard said, adding that the behavior is normal for a young calf staying close to her mother.
And while Ivy is a baby, Leonard said she’s far from tiny. “I’m five feet tall, so Ivy was already a foot taller than me when she was born,” she said. “I think she’s right around seven feet now.”
Disney’s conservation team said Ivy also plays a role in broader efforts to protect giraffes in the wild. Caitlin Cox, a senior representative for the Disney Conservation Fund, said the calf is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which helps maintain genetic diversity across accredited institutions.
“She’s contributing to maintaining the genetic diversity … so we hope the giraffe don’t go extinct,” Cox said.
Cox said animals like Ivy can also serve as ambassadors, inspiring guests to learn about wildlife conservation and support efforts in their own communities and around the world.
You can see her at Disney’s Animal Kingdom while riding the Kilimanjaro Safaris!🦒