Species survival is a significant focus for the Animal Programs team at Disney, and subsequently breeding programs have been developed with a goal of reintroducing select species into their native habitats. One success story is the rhinoceros, with a total of seven rhinos having been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Two of these rhinos were recently sent to Africa to help reestablish the species in Uganda where rhinos have been extinct since 1972. “Nande” and “Hasani” joined four other white rhinos at the Ziwa Sanctuary to help rebuild the white rhino population. This remarkable undertaking marked the first time that rhinos born in a zoological facility were sent to Africa from the U.S. Poaching is one of the foremost issues threatening rhino populations worldwide, so additional support from Disney is being contributed to further community conservation education programs and to ensure the success of this reintroduction initiative. The Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund and The Walt Disney Company have contributed more than $800,000 to rhino protection and related research projects in partnership with the International Rhino Foundation and other nonprofit organizations worldwide.

Another successful example of species survival efforts involves the Key Largo Wood Rat (KLWR). Classified as endangered since 1984, the wild population of the KLWR has steadily declined due to habitat loss and the impact of commercial development in South Florida. To help ensure the future of this species, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is participating in a partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a captive breeding program for these rare rodents by encouraging the animals to reproduce in a controlled environment for the first time in documented history. The scientific community has limited knowledge about the KLWR, so researchers at Disney implemented a combination of videotaping and direct observation to both study the animals’ daily activity patterns and adjust their environment. Thus far, three KLWR litters have been born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, including the first ever triplet birth, and additional births are expected to take place shortly. Disney scientists are also surveying the wild populations of KLWR in partnership with scientists from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland to determine a plan for reintroduction into the wild.