There’s a new face to look for on your next ride through Kilimanjaro Safaris!
Disney has announced that Timu, an eastern black rhinoceros, is now exploring the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Animals at Disney shared the news on Instagram, so keep an eye out for her the next time your safari vehicle rolls through the park’s African savanna.
Eastern black rhinos rank among the most endangered rhino subspecies, making conservation and managed breeding programs especially important for their future. Disney’s Animal Kingdom has worked with rhinos for decades as part of its animal care and conservation efforts.
And despite the names, you can’t tell a black rhino from a white rhino by color, since both are gray. One of the easiest ways to spot the difference is by looking at their mouths. Black rhinos have a pointed, prehensile upper lip that helps them grab leaves and vegetation, while white rhinos have a wider, square-shaped mouth suited for grazing on grasses.
Disney designed its rhino habitats with hills, tall grasses, trees, rocks, shrubs and plenty of areas for the animals to explore. Keepers also create mud wallows, which give the rhinos a place to cool off, help protect their skin from the sun and remove parasites.
Animal care teams use positive reinforcement training for daily health checks, too. Black rhinos may receive treats such as sweet potatoes and carrots while voluntarily participating in examinations, vaccinations and even blood draws.
You can spot both black and white rhinos on Kilimanjaro Safaris, and rhinos are also part of the experience on Wild Africa Trek. Disney offers a separate Up Close with Rhinos tour for guests who want to learn more about the park’s white rhinos.
For now, Timu gives us one more reason to keep our eyes peeled on our next safari through Harambe!
