Why Disney's Animal Kingdom Is Even Better Than You Thought

We love going to Animal Kingdom to see all the adorable animals. There are so many cute critters, from flamingos and otters to giraffes and rhinos. If you’re also an animal lover, then Disney just released the best news you’ll hear all week!

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Kendi is a 27-year-old white rhino who has lived at Kilimanjaro Safaris her whole life. So keepers immediately spotted a slight cloudiness in her right eye. Kendi had cataracts, a condition that clouds the eye lens and can lead to blindness if left untreated! Disney took us behind the scenes of Kenzi’s surgery and recovery, and we’re bringing you along.

Surgically removing a cataract in a white rhino is exceptionally rare and highly complex, requiring extensive planning, innovation, and collaboration. “I’ve planned for this one procedure more than any other in my life,” said Dr. Betsy, a veterinarian with Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team. “It’s been one of the most rewarding moments of my career. The level of innovation pushed us to think differently – and ultimately raised the bar for what’s possible in veterinary care.”

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For several years, the team worked around the clock to train Kendi to take eye drops up to four times a day. That dedication and preparation proved invaluable when the time finally came to perform the surgery in the rhino barn. Dr. Betsy partnered with an ophthalmologist from the University of Florida, one of Disney’s long-standing collaborative veterinary partners, to design a procedure that adapted advanced veterinary surgical techniques for use on one of the world’s largest land mammals.

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“It was truly an honor to be part of Kendi’s care. While cataract surgery is routine in humans, performing this type of procedure on an animal — especially one as large as a white rhino — presents extraordinary challenges,” said Dr. Caryn Plummer, ophthalmologist with the University of Florida. “In Kendi’s case, the potential to restore her vision made every complexity worth navigating. This effort would not have been possible without the dedicated veterinary and animal care team at Disney, whose teamwork, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kendi’s safety were essential. We’re hopeful that improved sight will make a meaningful difference in Kendi’s quality of life.”

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After a long healing process, Kendi is now back on the savanna at Animal Kingdom with a clearer vision and renewed confidence. Stay tuned to Disney Food Blog for more Disney World news!

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