I’ve been to Disney World dozens of times, so I feel very qualified saying that you can do everything there — including but not limited to witnessing some incredible animals up close and personal. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park, not only can you view animals from different points all over the park, but you can also walk down dedicated animal trails, as well as ride Kilimanjaro Safaris, which will take you on a Jeep-style adventure through the wild as a knowledgeable guide points out lions, zebras, giraffes, and more.
And since Animal Kingdom is home to the animals who inhabit the theme park, they end up getting nice and comfy on the property, forming bonds with the other animals and yes, births do happen. And thanks to the circle of life, a new baby okapi has just arrived at the park and he’s seriously too cute.
@disneyparksMeet the newest Disney baby Okapi, Elijah 😍 #Disney #DisneyParks #DisneyWorld #AnimalKingdom #Okapi #BabyOkapi #Baby #Animal
On Monday, February 5, the official @disneyparks TikTok account shared a video introducing their newest baby and resident of Animal Kingdom to the world: an okapi named Elijah.
In case you’re not familiar with this rather exotic animal, an okapi is a mammal who is related to the giraffe (and also happens to be an endangered animal). They’re pretty beautiful creatures, and their babies are even cuter, as you can easily see here.
Looks like he’s been busy eating leaves, exploring, and hanging out with his mama.
The story behind Elijah’s name
Elijah’s name holds special significance. It comes from a Cast Member who has been working at Disney for 50 years — what a way to honor such a legendary career!
According to the Disney Parks Blog, Elijah (the human) began his journey at Magic Kingdom in 1973, just two years after the parks opened to the public. He began working in the horticulture department at Animal Kingdom when it opened in 1998, where he’s been ever since.
This is the first baby okapi born at Animal Kingdom since 2012 (though 14 okapis have been born at the park overall). If you want to see him, check out the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, where he has recently joined his mom now that he’s grown a bit since his birth in October.
From what we’ve seen so far, Elijah seems to be fitting right in at his new home. Anyone else tempted to plan a trip to Disney World to go see him for yourself?
