Lioness on Safari

Anyone who has been on the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride will know lions sleep most of their day away. But does anyone know why it always seems the male sleeps way more? It feels like, nine times out of ten, if a lion is awake it is the female. Or is it just, he's a guy? I'm not complaining, mind you. She is certainly impressive.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

From the Forests of Tibet

Parrots are some of the most incredibly beautiful creatures on earth. And many people simply don't realize how many unique species there are in the world. This Derbyan parakeet, pictured here during the Flights of Wonder show, can only be found in Arunachal Pradesh, in the northwest corner of India, and parts of Tibet.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

A Gibbon Safari

It dawns on me that we have not had a photo of a white-cheeked gibbon on this page for quite some time. So without further delay...

I have so many great photos of these amazing gibbons, I could probably do a gibbon-only photo blog! They are so much fun and the design of the habitat makes them so viewable and photogenic.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

OTTERS!!

The next time you are on Discovery Island, take a minute and go see the Asian Small-Clawed Otter exhibit. As you enter the park, it is on the path to the right of the Tree of Life heading towards Africa. If you are lucky, you will see these guys playing and romping around.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Lunch at Pemba

Kidani Village is my favorite resort in all of Walt Disney World. It is quiet, incredibly gorgeous, and full of surprises. Head down to the pool and look to your right to see a whole separate savanna which is home to these kudus and okapi.

When I took this photo, I just happened to stop by Pemba with my camera just as lunch was being served. The okapi got to the buffet first and took off with the biggest piece.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe

Life is an Amazing Thing

Yes, it is. And it takes on an even more amazing quality when dealing with a species threatened with extinction. But zoos and conservations organizations are doing what they can, and at Disney's Animal Kingdom they can be the home and nursery for a new generation, like this little guy getting ready to feed on a lazy and carefree afternoon under the protection of the Pangani Forest.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

The Way A Rhino's Life Should Be

I just love this photo. With all of the talk in the news about the constant threat of poaching rhinos face in the wild, there really is nothing better then to see one at Disney's Animal Kingdom just relaxing and loving life. I just wish all White Rhinos could live the life this guy has.

But they can't. Instead they live under perpetual fear of extinction at the hands of human stupidity and greed. But we can help. Go to Save the Rhino and make a donation.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Extinction

The blesbok and the bontebok are closely related, and are often mistaken for each other. The big difference, besides the physical characteristics, is the blesbok is essentially extinct in the wild. But Disney's Animal Kingdom has a few of these magnificent animals, including this one.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

The Largest Pigeon

Islands often are home to unique indigenous species of all sorts. The Victoria Crowned Pigeon, like this one found on the Maharajah Jungle Trek are only found on the islands of northern New Guinea. These handsome, and mostly ground roaming pigeons, are the largest breed of pigeons found in the world.

I'vr seen this bird Maharajah aviary dozens and dozens of times, but this photo was the first time I ever noticed the incredible giraffe pattern markings on their legs.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Hoping...or Hopping for Australia!

Why do we always hear DAK fans wishing for a "land" based on Australia? Well, let's face it. They have some pretty cool animals Down Under! You can see a few Austalian animals already at the park, including this handsome Red Kangaroo.

The Red Kangaroo is the biggest and most numerous kangaroo in Australia. They can grow to be as tall as a human and hop nearly 40 miles per hour. But more impressively, when they get up a good head of steam they jump nearly 10 yards per jump over and over again.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)

Stage Fright

Sometimes it is easy for us to forget that the animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom are, in fact, wild. Most of the time they seem so relaxed and at ease with all the attention from guests. But once you put a baby in the picture, the scene can change.

This young Masai Giraffe, flanked by two family members, had only been "onstage" at Kilimanjaro Safaris when I took this photo of them running from the truck. Giraffes on Safari are famous for not really caring at all about the trucks, and often blocking their path and slowing the ride. But this baby was still nervous, and so was the rest of the family.

by Dave McBride (@RadioHarambe)