Disney’s Animal Kingdom is celebrating the birth of a baby mandrill monkey, named Saffron, at Kilimanjaro Safaris on July 24.
Baby Mandrill at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Baby Saffron weighs less than three pounds and could almost fit in the palm of your hand. Despite Saffron’s small size, mandrills are the world’s largest species of monkeys. Dr. Mark Penning, VP of Disney Parks’ Animals, Science and Environment division, wrote on Disney Parks Blog that Saffron is currently sticking by her mom Hazel and nursing in the treetops of their habitat. Mandrill mothers assume most parental responsibilities.
Saffron is a sister to Ivy, who was born two years ago. Saffron is nearly the size of Hazel now, as seen in the photo above.
Rafiki from “The Lion King” is a mandrill, which have colorful blue, red, and pink faces and yellow manes. According to Penning, each mandrill’s coloration and pattern is unique. No two strands of hair are the same. Saffron will develop her unique coloration as she fully matures, which takes three to four years.
The colorful backsides of mandrills help the family groups follow each other through the dense forests of Africa.
Mandrills are a vulnerable species, with only about 4,000 left in the wild in Africa. Saffron’s birth is part of Disney’s ongoing work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan. Read about more recent animal births at Walt Disney World:
- Two Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra Foals Born in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Closer Look at Newborn Cotton-Top Tamarin Monkey Twins at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- PHOTOS: Meet Walter — The Newest Red River Hog Piglet at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
- Yellow-Backed Duiker Calf Born for First Time in 20 Years at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney Conservation Fund
Disney Conservation is committed to saving wildlife and building a global community inspired to protect the magic of nature together. Since 1995, Disney Conservation has directed more than $120 million and the expertise of their dedicated teams to support organizations working with communities to save wildlife, inspire action, and protect the planet.
The Disney Conservation Fund is focused on saving wildlife for future generations through grants to leading conservation organizations working together to stabilize and increase the populations of at-risk animals including butterflies, coral reefs, cranes, elephants, gorillas, monkeys, and sea turtles. A Disney conservationist works with each organization to identify where Disney expertise can also play a role in reversing the decline of these animals and their habitats.
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