LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – He may not have quite the towering presence just yet, but a new giraffe is already turning heads at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Standing 6 feet tall, Tucker the male Masai giraffe made his onstage debut Monday on Harambe Wildlife Reserve with mom Mara and family. Since joining the savanna in 2015, Mara has expanded her family three times.
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“Little Tucker is a beacon of hope for us, and for this incredible animal, this crazy-looking, gangly. A funny creature that is just such an iconic animal of the savannas of Africa," said Dr. Mark Penning, vice president of Disney’s Animal, Science and Environment.
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Tucker’s animal care team has monitored him since his birth on Feb. 13, making sure he checked all the important developmental milestones before making his debut.
Tucker’s arrival marks the first giraffe calf born at Walt Disney World Resort since 2021 and underscores Disney’s ongoing commitment to wildlife and species protection.
“Every new animal that joins our Disney family is a wonderful reminder of the rich biodiversity of life that we have on our planet,” said Claire Martin, senior manager of Biodiversity Conservation for Disney Environmental Sustainability. “We take that to heart when we think about the work that we do for the Disney Conservation Fund, and we are celebrating 30 years this April."
The Masai giraffe is classified as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with around 30,000 giraffes remaining globally.
Counting Tucker, there are now eight giraffes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Guests can see Tucker and family on the Kilimanjaro Safaris during park hours.
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