Tucker, a newborn giraffe at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, made his public debut at the theme park Savannah, where he has new experiences such as mingling with other creatures and slamming puddles.
The calf, born on February 13th, joined his mother and other giraffes for his first walk on Monday. Park visitors may find him as they pass through the Kilimanjaro Safaris attractions at Walt Disney World. He is short, and relatively speaking, he is now standing about six feet tall.
Day 1 was about exploration.
“We want him to see the whole Savannah. We want him to see the barriers and everything,” said Animal Care Manager Jen Hernandez. “It’s like watching TV, so when they first see an elephant, I always laugh. They say, ‘What is this?’
He also learns from other giraffes how to go back to the barn where their food is hidden and how to go back to the barn. Wandering a bit, the group moved towards the gate at the edge of the savanna.
“This is actually something we want to see… knowing where he will go home,” Hernandez said.
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Cast members monitored the actions of other Savannah residents and Tuckers, including Zebra, Sable Antelope and Springbok.
“He noticed today that there was an animal smaller than him, so suddenly he was like, ‘Oh, hey,'” Hernandez said. “He’s always been small, and now he has a smaller person.”
Everyday events are refreshing for Tucker, the first giraffe to be born in the Animal Kingdom since 2021.
“I saw him climb the hills. It was his first time, so he’s still learning,” said Dr. Mark Penning, vice president of animals, science and environment at Disney.
“He wet his legs… he was shaking his legs like a cat. It’s really funny. He has all these new sensations,” Peninning said.
Disney had people stationed across the savanna to protect Tucker. Burlap fencing separated him from adjacent elephant habitat. It will remain intact for a few weeks, Penning said.
“We’re trying to make sure he’s not too excited because if he gets too excited and rushes, he can get into trouble,” he said.
Since her birth, Tucker has formed a behind-the-scenes bond with her mother, Mara, who has given birth twice before. The addition of a new Disney calf was created in conjunction with the association of zoos and aquariums and their species’ survival plans.
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He “has gained strength and confidence and has built a relationship with the Keeper,” Hernandez said.
Tucker’s arrival “is a reminder of us to continue the work we’ve been doing for so long. Protection went back first, born from Walt Disney. He was a huge protectionist.
“He cared about animals and shared stories of nature,” she said. “And this allows you to run through the stories of nature.”
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