Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge Has 3 New Nyala Calves, but Guests Will Have to Wait to See Them
Disney says three nyala calves have arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge and may appear on the savanna soon after backstage bonding time.
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge has three new reasons for animal fans to keep watching the savanna. Disney says a trio of nyala calves has arrived, but guests are not able to see them just yet.
The three calves are currently backstage, where they are spending time bonding with their mothers. Disney says guests may be able to spot them on the savanna soon, so the change mainly affects visitors hoping to catch a glimpse of the lodge's newest animal additions once they make their public debut.
Disney shared the announcement on Instagram in the post below, along with photos of the calves. As of publication, the three newborns did not appear to have publicly announced names.
What to watch for when they debut
Nyala are spiral-horned antelope native to Africa. Their calves are born with white stripes and spots, markings that help them blend into tall grass and other dense vegetation. When young, they have brown to reddish-brown coats.
Disney has not publicly detailed the sexes of the three new calves. What Disney has shared is how the species changes as it grows. Male calves darken as they mature, develop shaggy hair, and eventually grow the nyala's distinctive spiral horns. Adult females largely keep their brown coats with white striping and spotting. Disney also noted that those changes happen over time, not immediately after birth.
The new arrivals add to a recent run of animal updates across Walt Disney World. Earlier this year, Disney introduced another male nyala calf named Parker. Disney's Animal Kingdom also recently welcomed Quartz, a rare albino wallaby joey. Elsewhere on property, guests can also see Calfuccino, an orphaned manatee rescue at EPCOT.
