AKV animal update

[Splashboat]

I am not sure if any of this has been posted lately but here is an update from our trip. (I also posted on the AKV resort board)

All the Ostriches are now at Kidani only

Giraffe are now on Uzima savanna (I was told this was very recent)

The Pelicans are gone from Jambo. We asked several guides but all of them seemed to have just started working there 4 weeks ago. One called someone and said they are only at the park now. No further explanation as to why they were removed. The area is empty. I really liked watching the Pelicans. If anyone knows why they removed them, please post.

If you watch the Flamingos at night you might want to cover up well. My daughter had bike pants on and she watched them for about an hour when we were at the pool. Her ankles were all bit up. She said another couple that was standing there mentioned they felt like they were getting bit. At the time she only felt one bite but had several marks the next morning.

On a side note, we were able to watch fireworks every night from our room. Most nights 9:30 but some nights 10:00. Not sure which park but is was an unexpected pleasant surprise.

 

[LisaS]

Thanks for the update!

All the Ostriches are now at Kidani only

Just to clarify, by "at Kidani only", do you mean they are on the Pembe Savanna?

 

[Splashboat]

No, they were on Sunset. Last time we were at Jambo we saw Ostrich on Arusha. We didn't see any this time so we asked. They said they are now only at Kidani.
We went over to Kidani and saw them on Sunset. I couldn't answer if they are on Pembe.

It just occured to me, you can see Sunset from one side of Jambo so that is why you asked. So technically you can see them if you are on that side of Jambo. The guide said only at Kidani so I repeated it that way. I should have said they are no longer on Arusha savanna. I missed seeing them along with the Pelicans.

 

[disneynutz]

AKL/AKV has a new GM, I wonder if that has anything to do with it?

Bill

 

[LisaS]

It just occured to me, you can see Sunset from one side of Jambo so that is why you asked. So technically you can see them if you are on that side of Jambo. The guide said only at Kidani so I repeated it that way. I should have said they are no longer on Arusha savanna. I missed seeing them along with the Pelicans.

It has been a while since we stayed in Jambo House but the last time we did there was at least one ostrich on Sunset that occasionally walked through that little alcove under the Club Level rooms so that's why I asked. Thanks for clarifying.

I will miss the pelicans! I know they sometimes have to move animals around for various reasons but we always enjoyed watching them so we will miss seeing them the next time we visit Jambo House.

 

[wdrl]

Walt Disney World has several animal managers, including one that manages all the animals on the four savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas. We did the "Dine with an Animal Specialist" at Saana a couple of years ago and our specialist was Chris, who happened to be the Manager of the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas. She said that they sometimes move animals from one savanna to another for various reasons, including whether certain animals get along with others, issues with habitat/landscaping, etc. Chris also mentioned that a certain species might do well with other species, but a specific animal may not.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I am not sure if any of this has been posted lately but here is an update from our trip. (I also posted on the AKV resort board)

All the Ostriches are now at Kidani only

Giraffe are now on Uzima savanna (I was told this was very recent)

The Pelicans are gone from Jambo. We asked several guides but all of them seemed to have just started working there 4 weeks ago. One called someone and said they are only at the park now. No further explanation as to why they were removed. The area is empty. I really liked watching the Pelicans. If anyone knows why they removed them, please post.

That's very interesting information. Regarding the "Dine with an Animal Specialist" and that info, it's really neat that at that luncheon, you always get little "insider info" about the animals on the savannas. I'll bet they know why the Pelicans were removed! That's where I found out last year that these John Deeres weren't following the zebras to chase them, but to collect fresh poop to analyze for exact gestational information (I hadn't even known they were pregnant).

 

[bwvBound]

Walt Disney World has several animal managers, including one that manages all the animals on the four savannas at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas. We did the "Dine with an Animal Specialist" at Saana a couple of years ago and our specialist was Chris, who happened to be the Manager of the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge & Villas. She said that they sometimes move animals from one savanna to another for various reasons, including whether certain animals get along with others, issues with habitat/landscaping, etc. Chris also mentioned that a certain species might do well with other species, but a specific animal may not.

Ain't that the truth!

Interesting info -- thanks!

Related to the item I bolded: My horses are boarded at a facility that offers 'herd management.' Rather than being in barn stalls or corrals, the horses are given large paddock spaces shared with other horses. The facility moves the animals about the various paddocks fairly frequently to "keep the peace" between them all. Herd dynamics is a fascinating study!

 

[Splashboat]

That's very interesting information. Regarding the "Dine with an Animal Specialist" and that info, it's really neat that at that luncheon, you always get little "insider info" about the animals on the savannas. I'll bet they know why the Pelicans were removed! That's where I found out last year that these John Deeres weren't following the zebras to chase them, but to collect fresh poop to analyze for exact gestational information (I hadn't even known they were pregnant).

We want to do the dine with the animal specialist or night safari next time. We did the Sunrise safari because we knew it was ending.

It seemed like a lot of people at the resort were new employees. Even the person who checked us in. I had requested Arusha and when I asked her at check in if we got that area she said, "No, that is a separate booking category".

When I said we are DVC she looked at me like I had 3 heads. She got on the phone and called someone who explained everything to her. We actually did get on Arusha savanna but she didn't understand the room numbers so she thought it was Uzima.

On a side note, we were at the end of the 3rd bead (Zebra trail) so we were practically across from one of the lookout windows to Uzima.

I checked the Uzima savanna several times because I wasn't thrilled with the view when we stayed on that savanna a couple of years ago. I was really impressed. Lots of animals and I believe there was at least 1 giraffe every time I looked. Definitely more giraffe sightings than we had on Arusha.

With the proximity to the pool, Mara and the buses I think I might request Uzima next trip.