Beni the okapi calf was recently introduced at the Walt Disney World Resort on the Pembe Savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge!
Guests watched with delight as Beni cautiously but curiously explored the new sights and smell of the savanna, with his mom Olivia closely nudging him on from behind. Since his birth in July, Beni has grown four feet tall and weighs around 230 pounds. And while he still stays pretty close to his mom, he is slowly becoming more independent, and his endearing personality is starting to show as he matures.
We create magic at Disney, and, to me, one of the most magical sights is witnessing an animal step onto the savanna for the first time. It inspires our guests to connect and care about animals they otherwise may never see, and it’s a major accomplishment for Beni’s care team, who have worked for months to prepare him for this exciting moment.
Okapis are endangered in their home country of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and they are very good at camouflaging themselves in the rainforest, so getting to see them roam the savanna here at Walt Disney World Resort is incredibly special. 
Beni is the first calf of mom Olivia and dad Elombe, and his birth was part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan which ensures the responsible breeding of threatened and endangered species in managed care. Programs like these make it possible for people to experience this majestic species first-hand at accredited institutions across the country, and we’re elated to be one of them. Disney also has a long history of supporting conservation organizations that protect okapis and the forests they call home. Funds from the Disney Conservation Fund have helped monitor wild
okapi populations, reduce deforestation and support the well-being of local communities who share the forest with this iconic species.
