Disney’s Animal Kingdom retiring lions, will welcome new group
The two longtime lions on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be retiring from the park, Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President Animals, Science, Environment, Disney Parks, announced on the Disney Parks Blog.
Dakari and Kamari, often seen atop the rock outcropping on Kilimanjaro Safaris, have been icons of the park for the last decade, creating lasting memories for the guest who have visited the park. Some guests may also have been lucky enough to hear them roar.
The pair also served as inspiration to help create the to create 3D models that were used for the Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures live action version of “The Lion King.” Crews visited the savanna to watch and film the pair. This footage was woven together to create 3D models that could be used to create the animals featured in the film.
But the two Animal Kingdom lions are getting to an age where Disney felt the need to make this major decision with a continued focus on their wellbeing, happiness and health in mind. “It is with heartfelt emotions that we share the news of Dakari and Kamari’s retirement to a conservation haven in Florida accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA),” Penning wrote.
“As we prepare to say farewell and send them off with well wishes for their retirement, we will always remember them as ambassadors for African lions around the world. Their time on the savanna has allowed for our cast members to tell endless stories of how to protect their wild counterparts and contribute to the conservation of this majestic species,” Penning wrote.
In May, Kamari turned 14. She had come to Animal Kingdom in late 2011. Dakari, who turned 15 this year was born on May 2, 2009, at the Virgina Zoo. in January 2012, the male lion was moved from Virginia to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The lifespan of a lion can range from late teens to early 20s while in the wild a lioness may live up to 16 years, but males rarely live past the age of 12, according to the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
According to Disney, soon after Dakari and Kamari settle into their new home, we will welcome a group of young lions. Our animal care team is eager to welcome these new lions and work diligently to make them feel comfortable in their new home. During the first few weeks after their arrival, the pride will spend time backstage, getting acclimated to our keepers and their new space. It won’t be necessary to make introductions because these lions are already littermates. We hope that sibling dynamic will shine through as guests make their way to them on Kilimanjaro Safaris.
