There’s a new little face high in the treetops of Disney’s Animal Kingdom—and she’s stealing hearts already! Born on July 24, the latest mandrill at Kilimanjaro Safaris is named Saffron, and although she currently weighs less than three pounds, her presence is monumental.
Moms assume most parental responsibilities in mandrill social structures, and Hazel has been sweet and nurturing since Saffron’s birth on July 24. Like a human soothes a baby by rocking it back and forth, Hazel will often groom Saffron to comfort her. The bond between the two has been inseparable, and even Saffron’s sister Ivy has yet to hold her.
Meet the Family
Saffron is the daughter of Hazel, a nurturing mom who has formed a close bond with her baby. As is typical in mandrill social groups, moms take the lead on parenting, and Hazel has been grooming and caring for Saffron with gentle attention. Like a human parent, she soothes Saffron by grooming her—creating a sense of comfort and safety.
Even Ivy, Saffron’s older sister, hasn’t had a turn holding the newborn yet. The tight mother-daughter bond is vital in the early days of development.
Meet the Family Baby Mandrill Saffron
Saffron is the daughter of Hazel, a nurturing mom who has formed a close bond with her baby. As is typical in mandrill social groups, moms take the lead on parenting, and Hazel has been grooming and caring for Saffron with gentle attention. Like a human parent, she soothes Saffron by grooming her—creating a sense of comfort and safety.
Even Ivy, Saffron’s older sister, hasn’t had a turn holding the newborn yet. The tight mother-daughter bond is vital in the early days of development.
Conservation in Action
With only around 4,000 mandrills left in the wild, every birth matters. Saffron’s arrival is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, designed to ensure the health and genetic diversity of vulnerable species.
Disney’s Animals, Science, and Environment team works globally as well. In partnership with Durham University and the Jane Goodall Institute, they’ve helped return rescued mandrills to protected forests in the Congo. Thanks to hormone monitoring from Disney’s experts, we know those rewilded mandrills are thriving—with babies of their own!
