Overview
- Ivy, a female Masai giraffe born at Walt Disney World in April, stepped onto the Kilimanjaro Safaris savanna for the first time on Thursday, June 11, in a media-invited debut.
- Disney reports Ivy has grown from about 120 pounds and nearly 6 feet at birth to roughly 300 pounds and about 7.5 feet by her savanna debut, and she remains closely bonded to her mother, Willow, and is still nursing.
- Animal care staff cleared Ivy for public exposure after she met developmental milestones such as consistent nursing, reliably following her mother, and comfort with other giraffes, and trainers prepared Willow so the calf could learn by watching.
- Temporary burlap boundaries and close staff monitoring are in place to help Ivy learn safe limits on the habitat, and Disney cautions sightings are not guaranteed so early-morning safaris and watching for Willow give the best chance to spot her.
- Ivy is part of the AZA Species Survival Plan for Masai giraffes, a species listed as endangered with an estimated 30,000 remaining in the wild, and her debut caps a spring baby-animal season that Disney uses to illustrate conservation results and engage guests.