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Tucker the Masai Giraffe Celebrates First Birthday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
There is a very tall reason to celebrate at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Tucker, the first Masai giraffe born at the park since 2021, just turned one year old and his birthday bash was anything but small potatoes.
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Tucker made his debut on Kilimanjaro Safaris around Earth Day 2025, quickly becoming a fan favorite as guests spotted him exploring the savanna alongside his mom, Mara. Now officially one year old, Tucker celebrated with special enrichment created by his dedicated keepers and Disney’s Animal Nutrition Center. Think giraffe friendly “cupcakes” and a towering birthday “cake” crafted just for him. No candles required when you are already reaching for the sky.
Tucker’s birth is more than just adorable content for your camera roll. The Masai giraffe is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, with roughly 30,000 remaining in the wild. His arrival supports the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, which focuses on maintaining healthy genetic diversity and protecting giraffes from extinction.
You will only find Tucker out on Kilimanjaro Safaris, not on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. His mom, Mara, joined the park in 2015 and has now welcomed three calves, including Jabari in 2019. Tucker is carrying on quite the legacy.
His milestone also arrives during a big anniversary for the Disney Conservation Fund, which is celebrating 30 years of protecting wildlife and habitats around the globe. Since its founding on Earth Day 1995, the fund has directed more than $132 million to conservation programs, helped protect over 1,000 species, supported more than 600 organizations, and contributed to safeguarding more than 315 million acres of land and marine environments.
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The Disney Conservation Fund was created in connection with the development of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, continuing a conservation legacy inspired by Walt Disney himself. Through grants and hands-on efforts from Conservation Cast Members, the initiative supports habitat restoration, endangered species protection, and future conservation leaders worldwide.
If you have been lucky enough to spot Tucker stretching those long legs on the savanna, you know there is something extra special about watching a young giraffe grow up in a setting designed to inspire conservation. One year down, many more wild adventures to go.
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