Disney's Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World recently celebrated the birth of a baby okapi named Elijah, the first okapi birth at the park since 2012 and the 14th of this endangered species at the resort.
Born in October and initially weighing 46 pounds, Elijah has grown to 165 pounds and is now visible to guests on the Gorilla Falls Exploration Trail alongside his mother.
His birth is part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums' Species Survival Plan, which aims to responsibly breed endangered species threatened by issues like poaching and habitat loss.
Elijah is named in honor of a long-serving cast member, also named Elijah, who joined Magic Kingdom Park in 1973 and later moved to Disney's Animal Kingdom's horticulture department in 1998. This cast member has been instrumental in creating and maintaining the habitats for various animals at the park, including okapis, with dedication and passion.
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