Marley the American Crocodile Permanently Removed from DinoLand U.S.A. as Preparations Begin for New Animal Kingdom Land

Phil Wood

A large crocodile rests near a pond, surrounded by lush foliage, with a railing reminiscent of DinoLand U.S.A. in the foreground.

Marley the American Crocodile Permanently Removed from DinoLand U.S.A. as Preparations Begin for New Animal Kingdom Land

Marley the American crocodile, who used to be housed in DinoLand U.S.A., has been removed from his former habitat as Disney’s Animal Kingdom begins preparations for Pueblo Esperanza.

Marley the American Crocodile Removed From DinoLand U.S.A.

A large crocodile rests near a pond, surrounded by lush foliage, with a railing reminiscent of DinoLand U.S.A. in the foreground.

On Monday, September 30, we snapped this picture of Marley chilling in the shade at his habitat in DinoLand U.S.A. We didn’t realize at the time that it would be our last chance to see him in his typical habitat.

The empty animal enclosure, surrounded by a sturdy metal fence and filled with rocks and greenery, awaits its newest resident in DinoLand U.S.A. of the New Animal Kingdom Land. Perhaps Marley the Alligator will soon call this tranquil space home.

On a visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom today, we noticed that Marley is no longer inhabiting the location. The pool which took up a majority of his living space has been completely drained of water.

The empty fenced enclosure, with its lush greenery and scattered rocks in the background, evokes the wild charm of Animal Kingdom Land.

The sign that used to give information about Marley and his species has also been removed from the fence around the habitat. In the photo above, you can see that there are screw holes and darker wood where the sign used to be.

An outdoor area reminiscent of DinoLand U.S.A., featuring a large rock formation and lush greenery, fenced off with a metal barrier. People can be seen in the background near a pathway, providing a taste of Animal Kingdom's adventurous spirit.

At this time, Disney has not announced where Marley will be moved to. There are numerous trails around Disney’s Animal Kingdom, such as The Oasis Exhibits, Discovery Island Trails, Maharajah Jungle Trek, and Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail, so we may see him in a new habitat around the park soon. He could also be added to Pueblo Esperanza when the land opens in 2027.

Marley’s removal is part of the phased closing of DinoLand U.S.A. Rumors indicate that the phased closure will happen before the holidays, and Marley’s absence makes it seem as though the process has officially begun.

For more information about Pueblo Esperanza, check out the model of the land and a wood-carved sculpture of Kevin from “Up,” which will be part of the land’s new carousel.

Are you upset that Marley the American crocodile has been removed from DinoLand U.S.A.? Where do you think they’ll put him now? Let us know in the comments.

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1 thought on “Marley the American Crocodile Permanently Removed from DinoLand U.S.A. as Preparations Begin for New Animal Kingdom Land”

  1. I am literally holding back tears right now upon hearing this. I know that crocodilians don’t form “bonds” with humans, but Marley was such a “secret” animal, it always felt nice to go over and talk to him as if we were old friends. Animal Kingdom is my favorite park, and Marley was one of the highlights. I hope he receives a new home somewhere within Animal Kingdom.

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