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I’m not a huge fan of zoos. I’ve been to enough in my lifetime that I’ve seen many small local ones, where a poor bored black bear ambles restlessly on a barred cement slab the size of my bedroom. If a zoo doesn’t take proper care of animals I can’t stand to visit it (as shouldn’t be surprising to anyone who reads my articles on the families.com Pets Blog), and as I make few trips into cities that narrows down my list.
But when a zoo is done right, then I love it. My husband and I love nature documentaries and we’ve been able to find many on Netflix, but of course there’s something different about getting to see wild animals, especially of the type not found in one’s own backyard, up close.
Some of my favorite moments in nature documentaries are when I learn about animals I didn’t know existed (for example: did you know there’s an animal in Asia called a raccoon dog? It’s a type of wild dog, but it looks so much like a raccoon that it earned the moniker). Even better, then, is when I get to see such animals in the zoo.
That’s one of the reasons why I love Disney’s Animal Kingdom so much, and why, despite my deep affection for Disney movies, the non-film-related part of the Orlando park just might be my favorite. A couple weeks ago the official Disney Parks blog announced the recent addition of a new species to the Animal Kingdom, the specific type of which I hadn’t before heard.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is now home to some kunekune pigs. These adorable little guys, based on their size, look like they could be a domesticated breed. But they’re wild and found in New Zealand, though experts believe they originated either in China or from types found there.
The kunekunes were estimated to be nearly extinct in the 1980s. Conservationists started a breeding program in 1984 with 18 pigs, so most now in existence are descended from those. In 2004 around 5,000 kunekunes were recorded in New Zealand. Despite the fantastic upswing in numbers, it’s still a rare treat to get to see some of these adorable animals stateside.
The Animal Kingdom only has three kunekunes, but they’re sure to be a lovely addition to the park. Because the pigs have only just arrived in their new home they’re still undergoing training, but guests lucky enough to be around during some of the training sessions will have the chance to watch the proceedings.
As pigs are highly intelligent they can be trained to perform certain tricks such as sitting, standing, and completing agility exercises. The kunekunes are slated for appearances at the Affection Station (Disney’s fancy name for the petting zoo), and as such their trainers want to make sure they’re completely used to human contact before they can debut there.
These little guys, who come in a variety of colors (red, marbled white and black, brown, and more), are so cute. I like the idea of a pet pig, especially a little one, but the logistics given my desire for pet dogs are too tricky to handle. So instead I’ll be sure to stop by the Affection Station whenever I make it to the Animal Kingdom, so I can have some interaction time with these adorable animals.
Related Articles:
Disney Receives Jane Goodall Leadership Award
International Day of Forests at the Animal Kingdom
Disney Scientists Learn the Language of Elephants
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Aids Orphan Gorillas
*(This image by brian.gratwicke is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
