LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – It was an early start on Thursday for African elephant Nadirah and her 2-month-old calf, Corra.
The mother and daughter made their first steps across the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom as guests rode throughout the Kilimanjaro Safari Thursday morning.
“She definitely has motherly instinct and there’s also the really wonderful matriarch and we have this whole female herd,” said Sam Shablin, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Animal Endocrinologist.
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Experts said Nadirah had nearly a two-year pregnancy and staff at the conservation were making sure she was strong and healthy the entire time.
“Towards the end of the pregnancy, what we are mainly looking for is a drop in certain reproductive hormones and an increase in other reproductive hormones that take over,” said Shablin.
Born on Dec. 13, Corra weighs just over 300 pounds and she’s known for being a bold little girl and you can call her spunky too.
Experts said Corra also has a big family. Her grandma and some of her aunts joined in all the fun.
“It is a family affair because what you got to witness this morning is a family of elephants. Three generations,” Dr. Scott Terrell with Disney’s Animal Kingdom said.
Terrell explained African elephants are considered an endangered species and said they do face dangers in the wild.
“The threats are primarily the ivory trade,” said Terrell. “Their tusks, and habitat loss and human conflict and so there are significant threats elephant populations continue to decline in Africa.”
News 6 learned the African elephant herd is expanding. Disney’s Animal Kingdom is expecting two more baby elephants in 2025.
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