Overview
- Kendi, a 27-year-old white rhino at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, underwent successful cataract surgery and has returned to the savanna with clearer vision following a procedure reported on Monday.
- Keepers detected subtle cloudiness in Kendi’s right eye during routine care and veterinarians confirmed cataracts after close monitoring.
- The operation required years of planning and trust-based husbandry, including multi-year training so Kendi would accept voluntary eye drops before surgery.
- Disney veterinarians partnered with University of Florida ophthalmologist Dr. Caryn Plummer to adapt cataract techniques for a very large mammal and Disney’s costuming team spent two years crafting a custom protective eye mask for recovery.
- Disney and UF plan to share the surgical method and lessons learned to aid rhino welfare and conservation, a step that could inform care for near-threatened white rhinos elsewhere.