Beni, a rare, endangered Okapi Calf takes to the savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

Jan 04, 2023 in "Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge"

Posted: Wednesday January 4, 2023 4:20pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Beni the Okapi has made his first appearance on Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge savanna this week.


Since his birth in July, Beni has grown to a height of four feet tall and weighs around 230 pounds. 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.

Watch the video below to see Beni at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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surfsupdonJan 04, 2023

I'll look for Beni tomorrow! Dinner at Jiko with runDisney friends!

CompedOct 18, 2022

Disney cares about their AZA accrediation more than practically anything else in the parks, so I was once told. They take it extremely seriously, and no money is spared to keep them up on everything the AZA requires.

SirwalterraleighOct 18, 2022

…buzzkill

bpiperOct 18, 2022

If they didn't, they would loose their AZA accreditation. They have to follow the species survival plan.

Jambo DadOct 18, 2022

This is definitely something Disney still does well.

SirwalterraleighOct 18, 2022

…what a cutie. Gotta love dak and dakl. Real life “magic” (I’m a okapi fan…can you tell?)

dreday3Oct 18, 2022

I love the Okapi, they wear striped pants! :D