Animal Kingdom missing alot of animals?

[DJ Disney Kid]

Is it just me or is Animal Kingdom missing alot of ummm...animals? The park is coming up to its 10 yr anniversary, yet they really don't have alot of new habitats or anything. Wheres the kangaroos, koalas, panda bears, goats, etc.? I understand that they try to theme the animals to fit in with a specific land, but we haven't really seen much in the way of new animals or habitats since the parks open. What animal would you like to see added?

 

[fun4disney]

when I visited AK last week I thought that there were a lot less animals out on the safari ride. We only saw a few deer type animals and 1 Giraffe....The lion saw sleeping and we didn't see anything else roaming around....

 

[bradk]

there are giant pandas and red pandas, both indigenous to asia.

giant pandas are pretty much never going to happen because there's a very strict program in place. only 5 zoos in north america have them.

koalas only exist in about 10 zoos in north america and don't fit into AK's theming at all. red pandas are in a handful more than that.

i can't say i've personally had any complaints about the collection at DAK. sure, it gets repetitive if you keep going back, but where doesn't it?

at least they have a good breeding program there. almost always baby elephants and giraffes and other species.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

Well you'd think that with Disney having one of the most well-maintained "zoos" in North America that they wouldn't have much trouble getting things like Giant Pandas. Especially with Disney's success with breeding, as you stated bradk.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Last time the National Zoo got Giant Pandas they had to pay a rental fee in excess of Ten Million Dollars to the Chinese Government, as well as setting up the habitat, etc.

Disney could possibly set up an area in Asia as a habitat, but there is no telling how much they would have to pay the Chinese Government to borrow the pandas, or how long they could keep them.

And, if they did, would it actually increase attendance at AK or could they sell enough Panda-related merchandise to make it worthwhile.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

Well my next question would then be, what happens to the pandas that come from breeding "rented" pandas? Are the babies owned by Disney then, or do any offspring have to go back to China? If Disney is able to keep offspring, then its not a bad investment to be able to continue breeding and have pandas forever in your park going forward.

I don't think any animal is going to draw people to come to AK anymore frequently, so I would assume Disney doesn't think of the animals they are going to add in that sense.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

Is it just me or is Animal Kingdom missing alot of ummm...animals? The park is coming up to its 10 yr anniversary, yet they really don't have alot of new habitats or anything. Wheres the kangaroos, koalas, panda bears, goats, etc.? I understand that they try to theme the animals to fit in with a specific land, but we haven't really seen much in the way of new animals or habitats since the parks open. What animal would you like to see added?

If the rumored Australia section ever opens up, we'll probably see lots of kangaroos, koalas, wallabees, platypuses, dingoes, etc. etc. Give it time.

You can find goats in the Affection Section in Rafiki's Planet Watch. I doubt AK will ever get giant pandas.

 

[bradk]

you're actually talking $1M per giant panda per year minimum (it can get much more expensive than that) plus you incur all the costs of the habitat (which easily runs in the millions itself - national zoo's was 20M), feeding, keeping, medicine, etc. it's done strictly out of conservation. but on that argument alone, if anyone should be willing to do it, it's disney.

you also actually can't profit off the giant pandas. any money coming in directly as a result of them is meant to go back to their conservation. the WWF sued the toledo zoo because it took panda profits and invested it in improving the zoo.

but even giant pandas aside, there are other species like the red panda which i guess would be nice to see, but i really have a problem even trying to visualize animals being introduced to DAK. dunno why.

here's a pic of a red panda i took at the central park zoo just a couple of days ago actually

ETA: and no, under the current giant panda breeding programs, babies are returned to china after a couple of years. but the reality is giant pandas are only capable of being impregnated no more than 3 or 4 days out of the entire year and male pandas have a notoriously next-to-none sex drive. usually for the giant pandas, if they don't mate, they try artificial insemination.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

when I visited AK last week I thought that there were a lot less animals out on the safari ride. We only saw a few deer type animals and 1 Giraffe....The lion saw sleeping and we didn't see anything else roaming around....

When I rode Kilimanjaro Safaris this past weekend, I saw several elephants, giraffes, cheetahs, lions, gazelles, hippopotamuses, black rhinoceroses, as well as other animals I can't remember. What animals you see when you ride depends on the time of day, the weather conditions, and the general mood of the animals.

 

[jenelope]

The Detroit Zoo doesn't have giant pandas, either. (from Wikipedia):
"By the year 1984, however, pandas were no longer used as agents of diplomacy. Instead, China began to offer pandas to other nations only on 10-year loans. The standard loan terms include a fee of up to US$ 1,000,000 per year and a provision that any cubs born during the loan are the property of the People's Republic of China. Since 1998, due to a WWF lawsuit, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service only allows a U.S. zoo to import a panda if the zoo can ensure that China will channel more than half of its loan fee into conservation efforts for wild pandas and their habitat."

It's my understanding that many zoos in North America focus their breeding programs on specific species. In Detroit, there's a big focus on arctic animals. I would guess that the Animal Kingdom has chosen to focus primarily on African animals, with a lesser emphasis on Asian and North and South American animals. I think climate probably plays a big part in the species they support. The animals they house are comfortable in very warm climates. As much as I'd love to see a red panda romping around an environment near Expedition Everest, the temperatures in Florida aren't like the real Himalayans and I'd hate to see the adorable pandas all overheated.

 

[jennynoel]

Well my next question would then be, what happens to the pandas that come from breeding "rented" pandas? Are the babies owned by Disney then, or do any offspring have to go back to China? If Disney is able to keep offspring, then its not a bad investment to be able to continue breeding and have pandas forever in your park going forward.

I don't think any animal is going to draw people to come to AK anymore frequently, so I would assume Disney doesn't think of the animals they are going to add in that sense.

All Giant Pandas belong to China, no matter where they are born. They would be under a similar lease agreement to that of their parents, or they would go back.

 

[PatriciaH]

There are Kangaroos at AK.

 

[Mickey28]

Well you'd think that with Disney having one of the most well-maintained "zoos" ....

DAK is "NAHTAZU". According to Disney.

 

[hrmom2stq]

We just got back on Sunday and we saw a lot more animals than our last trip (2 yrs ago) or maybe I just didn't remember.....Anyway, on the safari one of the rhinos stood right in front of our jeep we had to wait for him to move - pretty cool to be that close to a rhino. Also out were the lions, ostriches, all types of gazelles, crocs, etc.. Also on the trek the tigers were out playing with a ball in the water - I think we stood and watched them for 15-20 minutes. Lots of birds, the gorillas were out.....We thought it was great.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

There are Kangaroos at AK.

There are? Where are they located? Any photos?

 

[AnninIowa]

I wish they would at least have more animals of the species they do have. Then maybe you wouldn't have to strain to see the few animals that are there. I wish they had MORE monkeys and apes...and I also wish they had some animal interaction. We went to Busch Gardens on our last Disney trip and AKL pales in comparison.

 

[bzzymom]

If I remember correctly, the kangaroo was near the tree of life, towards the left side. I could be wrong though since I haven't been there in a year.

 

[PatriciaH]

From All Ears:

"The Discovery Island Trails are the best kept secret that you'll find on the Animal Kingdom Guide map.

These are beautifully vegetated paths and trails around the base of the Tree of Life that contain small animal viewing areas. Here you will find small animal viewing areas for lemurs, kangaroos, capybaras and other wildlife.

Here is a listing of the animals and birds you may see in the Discovery Island Trails.....

Abdim's Stork
African Comb Duck
Agouti
Asian Small-clawed Otter
Axis Deer
Blue & Yellow Macaw
Cape Teal
Capybara
Demoiselle Crane
East African Crowned Crane
European Polecat
Eyton's Whistling Duck
Galapagos Tortoise
Greater Flamingo
Green-winged Macaw
Hadada Ibis
Red Kangaroo
Ring-tailed Lemur
Saddle-billed Stork
Salmon-crested Cockatoo
Silver Teal
White Stork
White-faced Whistling Duck
Woolynecked Stork
Wood Stork"

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ak/ak_trails.htm

"Say the word "wallaby" and immediately thoughts go to kangaroos and Australia, the Land Down Under. A wallaby is actually a small-sized kangaroo and there are 50 species. The Oasis is home to a Swamp Wallaby. Males weigh about 13 pounds and the females about 10. They have extremely strong hind legs and a tail that provides great muscles for jumping. The tail sometimes acts as a third leg, sometimes used for balancing. The wallaby is nocturnal and very solitary. You may only find wallabies in groups when they are feeding on the grasses and herbs in their habitat. As it moves about, the wallaby keeps its arms tucked close to its body to protect them. The numbers of wallabies are dwindling as the wetlands disappear.

Photo Tip: The wallaby is difficult to photograph since it tends to hide in the brush. My optical zoom just wouldn't get a close enough photo, and using the digital zoom blurred the picture some. Lots of patience is needed for a photo of the wallaby.

As I said before when talking about the Oasis, you need to be mindful of the fact that animal- and bird-watching require patience and quiet. If you're looking for a place to "stop and smell the roses" -- or even if you're not -- take the time to slow down and soak in the peaceful atmosphere and the beauty of the flora and fauna that make up Animal Kingdom's Oasis."

http://www.allearsnet.com/tp/ak/oas2.htm

 

[BabaGanoush]

The Red and Grey Kangaroo can be found on the front side of the Tree of Life. The easiest viewing area can be found if you go left (west) upon viewing the front side of the Tree of Life (go towards CMM and Africa). There is a covered area where you can see lesser flamingo. If you look farther into the area, you can often see kangaroos in the distance.

For the best view, you need to venture along the Discovery Island Trails - specifically the one going around the front side of the tree. The easiest entryway to this path is right by where Flik often makes appearances on the west side of the tree.

To the OP, I agree. I would love to see more animals added to the park (such as another walking trail). However, the most logical place for this to occur is in the area occupied by Camp Minnie-Mickey. I think it would be quite cool to have a North American trail where you can possibly see wolves, moose, and grizzly/brown bears. It would also fit in with the area.

I agree with BradK that you probably wont be seeing Giant Pandas anytime soon at DAK because of the crazy restrictions placed on them and because they just would not make great show because honestly, if you thought many of the animals at DAK are lazy and hard to see, Giant Pandas would almost be worse because the majority of their day involves laying around and chewing on bamboo. Sooo...

All I want are bears. Bring bears to DAK!

 

[kimluvswdw]

We took friends to Disney with us in May and the one thing they said they hated was the safari ride. They said it was very boring and there were not many animals there. This kind of surprised me, because we have always seen alot of animals on the safari.