Your cuteness meter may go overboard with this announcement, but we’re bringing it to you anyways!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has welcomed a few baby animals to the cast of wild crew lately with the additions of a baby yellow-backed duiker and a new zebra. Now, you’ll have a chance to see the newest addition but you’ll have to keep a keen eye out because she’s very tiny.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has another tiny reason to celebrate! We have a new baby animal to visit when we’re in the park. Say hello to Saffron!
©Disney
Ok, now that we’ve all had the collective, “AHHH” here’s a little bit about her. This tiny little lady weighs less than 3 pounds and is so small she almost could fit in the palm of your hand. While she may be tiny now, Mandrills are actually the largest species of monkeys in the world, which means she could reach a healthy 25 pounds within a few years.
If you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of her hop a ride around Kilimanjaro Safaris, but fair warning chances are she’ll be tightly wrapped around her mom, Hazel, and probably nursing up high within the treetops of where they call home.
©Disney
Saffron was born on July 24th, 2023, and since then Hazel has been busy nurturing her little one. Typically, the moms assume most of the parental responsibilities in mandrill social structures. Hazel has already been observed grooming Saffron to comfort and soothe her and it’s fascinating to hear the similar comparison to a human soothing a baby by rocking it back and forth. Hazel and Saffron have reportedly been inseparable though as big sister Ivy has yet to even hold her! (Sorry, Ivy.)
©Disney
If Saffron’s features seem familiar you’ve probably seen a version of the mandrill monkey in the Disney animated classic, The Lion King. Rafiki, the wise monkey that guides Simba, is also a mandrill and he’s commonly spotted due to his vibrant colors that include shades of blue, red, and pink on their faces and yellow manes. Interestingly though, mandrill colorations and patterns are unique to each monkey, and no two strands of hair are the same. Saffron will eventually develop her own unique and bright coloration once she fully matures when she gets to be about three to four years old.
©Disney
There are an estimated 4,000 mandrills remaining in Africa, and this new addition is great news for such a vulnerable species. Saffron’s birth is an example of Disney’s work alongside the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan that is working together to ensure the responsible breeding of endangered species in managed care. Their goal is to “create healthy and genetically diverse populations of animals for years to come.”
We can’t wait to get out and spot Saffron up in the treetops while on safari and hope to see her make her presence known soon. For the latest in Disney news and updates, be sure to check back in with us at Disney Food Blog.
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Cannot wait to try and spot all three girls when we visit in September!