Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 3 - Betty and the Beast - full transcript
Zebras arrive on the savanna, and the Park hopes for its first-ever babirusa piglet.
NARRATOR: This time
on Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom,
two plucky pigs go on a blind date...
DAN: It's just incredibly exciting.
NARRATOR: ...a manatee takes to the skies.
FEMALE VOICE:
Lou's going on a little adventure.
NARRATOR: And a zebra foal explores
a brand-new world.
This is a really fantastic day.
-(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
-(BIRD SQUAWKING)
NARRATOR: Far from hustle and bustle
at the center of the park...
on a secret field
outside of guests' view...
Look how cute they are.
...these Hartmann's mountain zebras
get ready for a big move to a new savanna.
-Giddyup!
-(ALL LAUGH)
I got one. You need help?
The first step,
bringing the animals into holding.
-Everybody's in place. Good to go.
-FEMALE VOICE: We're ready.
NARRATOR: Soon this striped herd will be
on its way to a whole new world.
We are so excited.
The zebras are headed to their new home
as part of the savanna
on the Kilimanjaro Safari.
It has been years since zebra have been
on this savanna,
and Hartmann's mountain zebra
have never been.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNT)
MEAGHAN: This is gonna be a new experience
for all the other animals
on the savanna as well.
Many of them have never seen zebra.
(COW MOOS)
MEAGHAN: These are wild animals.
We can't really
predict how they're gonna react.
It's our job to make sure
that this goes smoothly.
Zebra do tend to be pretty mischievous
though, so there is a good chance
that they will be getting
into some trouble at some point.
NARRATOR: To get to their new home,
this mischievous group
must follow their keeper's lead.
-MEAGHAN: Are you ready to go?
-I'm ready, let's do this.
Domino!
NARRATOR: But these guys...
Come on, big boy.
NARRATOR: ...just wanna horse around.
MEAGHAN: Domino is a beloved animal,
and he loves to roll in dirt.
He's pretty goofy in that regard.
We have Prima, she's the boss lady.
She has a very bold personality.
(CHUCKLES)
Heidi is very calm and docile.
Clementine is joining in.
She's the youngest, at about a year old,
and she has a lot of energy.
She is spunky
and definitely has a mischievous side.
-(ZEBRA BRAYING)
-(MEAGHAN LAUGHING)
Love her.
(BRAYING)
MEAGHAN: Hartmann's mountain zebra
have really big personalities and so,
as we move them to their trailer,
we need to be on our toes.
Whoa!
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
NARRATOR: And the team has one
scrumptious surprise to entice them
into their holding pens.
-MEAGHAN: Domino, Prima!
-(SHAKING TREATS)
MEAGHAN:
I've got some tasty treats for you.
Come on! That was fast.
(ALL LAUGH)
MEAGHAN: Good job, Prima.
NARRATOR: The next challenge, safely guide
the zebras into transport trailers
that will take them to their new home.
We're gonna load Prima first,
Domino second.
Hopefully, things will be nice
and smooth.
FEMALE VOICE: Come on, mama.
You're good, you're good.
NARRATOR: Prima, Domino, and Heidi
go in without a hitch.
Rascally youngster Clementine loads last.
FEMALE VOICE: With Clementine being young,
who knows what she's gonna do.
Tell her to release... Clementine.
FEMALE VOICE: Go on, pretty girl.
Aw. Pretty girl. Come on, pretty girl.
Come on! I need you to turn back around.
Other way, other way!
FEMALE VOICE:
Clementine, come on!
-FEMALE VOICE 1: There you go!
-FEMALE VOICE 2: Yes! She is in there.
(CHUCKLES)
Didn't think she was gonna go in.
I would see her little head
and then she would just, like, "No."
FEMALE VOICE: Giddyup, giddyup!
NARRATOR: Next stop,
the zebras' new savanna barn...
Why is she so cute?
NARRATOR: ...as they get ready to meet
their new neighbors.
We're very excited.
They're finally here. Yeah!
The fun is just beginning. (LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
NARRATOR: Speaking of exciting futures,
at The Oasis...
EMILY: Hey, girlfriend.
NARRATOR: ...keeper Emily hopes
this very special pig...
EMILY: Hi. It's okay.
NARRATOR: ...will do something
never done before at the park.
She came to us in hopes
that we will have piglets.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has never had
baby babirusas,
so this would be a first for us.
It would be really cool
for this animal to be that first one.
(MUNCHES)
KATIE: You find some yummy?
She's the cutest.
NARRATOR: To have piglets, Betty needs
a boyfriend, and bachelor, Mentari...
heads her way.
DAN: Good boy. You're okay. Good boy.
He's doing pretty good
and exploring his new home.
Only the males have the tusks,
and they're basically just extensions
of their teeth.
He's adorable. We're very excited
that he's here with us.
All right. That's it, buddy.
I have no more food. Good boy!
Mentari seems to be a lot more calm
than Betty.
She is more likely to run around
and get more excited,
a little bit more nervous.
Mentari here is a lot more calm,
more low-key.
(BLOWS WHISTLE)
FEMALE VOICE: Good boy.
DAN: Our dream is that
they'll like each other enough
to mate and have piglets.
FEMALE VOICE: Hi, handsome.
NARRATOR:
To see if Betty and Mentari hit it off...
You want me to go in
and open her stall door?
NARRATOR:
...keepers plan a surprise blind date.
DAN: It'll be the first time
that Betty is meeting Mentari.
So, they're just gonna be able
to see each other
through a little window.
So we'll see how they'll react.
(BLOWING WHISTLE)
NARRATOR: Betty saunters backstage.
Her sensitive snout tells her
romance could be around the corner.
DAN: She knows that someone's down here,
although she hasn't seen him yet.
She knows that something is different
than normal.
You wanna come meet your boyfriend?
We'll just give her the time.
We're not gonna force Betty
to do anything.
We're gonna let her take her time
and come down when she's comfortable to.
NARRATOR: Just when it looks like Mentari
is gonna get stood up...
DAN: What are you doing?
All right, she's in the stall
so they're probably getting a visual
of each other
for the first time right now.
NARRATOR: But love at first snout
remains a question.
DAN: You see him.
Well, she definitely saw him,
and now she's eating some food.
(DAN CHUCKLING)
Good girl. Oh, you see him?
He's right there.
Nope, the food is more interesting
right now.
NARRATOR: While Betty gets her fill,
Mentari has an appetite for love.
DAN: Mentari is very interested in her.
We hear a little bit of grunting sounds.
(GRUNTING)
DAN: What are you doing, buddy?
NARRATOR:
With at least Mentari getting the feels...
keepers decide to set up a second date.
But for piglet success,
they must wait for the perfect moment.
DAN: She's only capable of becoming
pregnant for a very short window.
If the next date goes as good as today,
then we definitely have a good shot
at having a baby babirusa.
NARRATOR: At 110 acres,
the Kilimanjaro Safaris
is the largest attraction
in all of the Walt Disney World Resort.
-To keep it trucking...
-Awesome.
NARRATOR: ...every morning,
work starts well before guests arrive.
(ENGINE REVS)
(HONKING)
The double honk is so...
people around me know that I'm moving.
NARRATOR: It's 8:00 a.m...
Meghan heads out
on her own personal safari
to check that it's ready
for the day ahead.
It's called the test truck ride.
MEGHAN: Being a test truck out here,
we're making sure
that the ride path is good,
making sure all the water levels
are good for the animals
and they're all filled where
they're supposed to be filled.
The first area of the reserve
that we're entering in here,
this is the little Ituri forest here.
These are the bongos!
Aren't they beautiful?
I love them.
It takes about 20 minutes
to drive the ride path...
unless an animal gets in the road...
(LAUGHING) ...which happens,
happens pretty frequently.
This is their home.
Yeah, we're just visitors.
(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: And up ahead...
Okay.
(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: ...some residents exercise
their right of way.
And they'll take all the time they need.
-MEGHAN: The ducks are not afraid.
-(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: But it puts her in
the perfect place to see... and hear...
-(LION ROARS)
-NARRATOR: ...and hear...
Yeah... oh, yeah!
(LION ROARS)
NARRATOR: ...the king and queens
of the safari.
-MEGHAN: Yay, they're gonna respond.
-(ROARS)
(LIONS ROARING)
MEGHAN: They are...
my favorite animals out here,
so getting to hear them roar
and vocalize, that is always
really emotional for me...
just 'cause it's so amazing, and it's...
honestly, it's the best sound that
you will ever hear in your entire life.
(CHUCKLES) She's staring right at us now.
And there they go. All right.
That's my lion soap opera.
(CHUCKLES)
MEGHAN: Now that the test trucks
have gone through the ride path...
we can start letting guests on
for the day.
NARRATOR: For the
executive creative designer of the park...
This is kind of the coolest thing.
NARRATOR: ...the safari experience
offers something deeper
than a sightseeing adventure.
JOE: Conservation is intrinsic
to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Everything revolves around the idea
that nature
is a supreme value.
It can't be traded, it can't be replaced.
Over the course of the years
that we've run Animal Kingdom,
Masai giraffe have become endangered,
so these environments
where you can manage a population,
like these giraffes,
are more important today
than when we opened this park.
If you pay attention
to the world of nature,
you learn that all of us in some way
can be part of this conservation story.
NARRATOR: And now, this conservation story
adds a whole new chapter.
It's happening.
FEMALE VOICE:
NARRATOR: Domino and Prima
get their chance to become the first ever
Hartmann's mountain zebras
on the savanna.
I'm thrilled. I'm looking forward
to seeing them out there.
FEMALE VOICE:
(INHALES DEEPLY)
Just wait in anticipation for them,
uh, to appear in their new home.
Here we go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
JEFF: I think it's awesome.
I have missed having zebra out here.
One of my favorite species.
Zebra are cooler than giraffes.
I said it. I said it aloud.
NARRATOR: But how the other animals
will react... remains unknown.
JEFF: So, our first encounter
with the other animals.
The wildebeest
have definitely noticed them.
(CHUCKLES) Oh my goodness!
That zebra thing's walking towards us.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
JEFF: It's been a long time.
A lot of these animals haven't seen zebra.
Cows are curious about them.
Springboks are looking.
Somebody's really checking them out,
it looks like Stephanie.
Wildebeest, look at them.
Nosy neighbors, still.
Still looking and following
from a distance.
What's with these striped critters?
And as it should be.
Zebra don't care, everybody else does.
(CHUCKLES)
NARRATOR: And while others look on...
Prima makes herself right at home.
JEFF: Oh, there she goes.
Get that big ole belly
to move in the dirt.
It's wonderful.
NARRATOR: And these nosy neighbors
will soon have another
new arrival to gawk at
because that big old belly
holds a stripy surprise.
MEAGHAN: There's something
really special about Prima.
She is pregnant, and Domino is the father.
So, soon we will have
a nice family herd out there.
I'm thrilled. There's not really much
cuter than a zebra baby.
It just makes me so excited
and gets me out of bed at morning.
JEFF: It's gonna be really cool
having a new, uh, zebra kid out there.
That's really gonna cause a stir.
NARRATOR: Over at Epcot...
while guests explore
The Seas with Nemo and Friends...
backstage, it's mission critical.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
NARRATOR: Lou, the manatee,
needs urgent medical attention.
KIM: All right, everybody.
I think we're ready
for a debrief, real quick.
This morning we're going to be, um...
taking Lou on a little adventure
over to the hospital for a little CT scan.
NARRATOR: The CT scan
will focus on an injury Lou suffered
before he arrived at The Seas,
when he lost 90 percent of his tail
in a boat strike.
A recent checkup reveals
it could be infected.
CONRAD:
We took a look underneath Lou's tail
and there did seem
to be some inflammation
and that's something that we wanna
jump on really quick
and treat it as soon as possible.
We wanna hang on to what's there.
NARRATOR: The team plans to transport
big Lou five miles away
to the veterinary treatment room
for a high def CT scan...
something they've never attempted before
with a manatee.
CONRAD: Lou is a friendly giant.
We wanna do everything we can
to keep him happy and healthy.
NARRATOR: Dr. Deidre is on hand
to look after Lou throughout his trip.
Okay. Yeah.
Lou, I'm not leaving your side.
We have everything from plan A to plan Z
in case we get delivered any curveballs
along the way.
NARRATOR: The first challenge,
the trip to the transport truck outside.
But Lou's way too big to simply go out
the front door.
We're gonna put him in a stretcher,
we're gonna fly him thought the skylight
up onto third floor roof.
NARRATOR: So 1,800-pound Lou will fly,
courtesy of a crane.
KIM: That's all right, pull it up
enough for me to grab it and I'll get it.
MALE VOICE: Stretcher is in the building.
KIM: All right, Dave. Here we go.
Flip those. Good.
MALE VOICE 1:
MALE VOICE 2:
-He's doing it himself.
-DR. DEIDRE: Yeah.
MALE VOICE 2:
DR. DEIDRE: We're ready.
NARRATOR: We have liftoff!
Since he's a mammal, Lou can breathe
out of water as he ascends.
DR. DEIDRE: You can imagine
what that sensation must feel like,
being in a crane
and lifted out of a ceiling.
Just make sure you like
where he's positioned as he comes down.
It's unseasonably cold today,
so we are just covering him with blankets.
It's really, really critical that
we keep him as warm as we can.
-MALE VOICE 1: Forward. Up.
-MALE VOICE 2: Is that enough?
-MALE VOICE 1: Good!
-Okay.
-Ready to be locked up?
-MALE VOICE: Lock us in!
Yeah, let's do it!
DR. DEIDRE: We're really excited that
things are going so smoothly.
We're looking forward to going,
heading over to Animal Kingdom.
NARRATOR: At The Oasis...
nine days after her first date,
Betty may want to take her relationship
with Mentari to the next level.
Just yesterday, we started seeing
the physical signs.
She is cycling now. She's in estrus.
That means she is within the time period
that she is capable of becoming pregnant
so this is the perfect time for us
to try for some baby pigs.
(SNORTS)
DAN: There is the possibility
that there'll be some aggression.
Uh, it's actually kind of expected.
They have to kinda get to establish
their relationship.
So, hopefully, they'll show interest
in each other though.
We want them to breed, we want piglets.
(INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR:
Betty gets a whiff that love may be near.
Snout to snout,
sniffing quickly turns to flirting.
DAN: Things are looking good right now.
If this continues, we'll let them out.
They'll have more room out there.
NARRATOR: Outside...
There they are! (CHUCKLES)
NARRATOR: ...these piggy paramours
waste no time showing affection.
DAN:
It looks like he's actually mounting her.
-It's like picture perfect.
-(WALKIE-TALKIE BEEPS)
-DAN: They're doing really well.
-SHANA: Yay!
It's not just about their success
in breeding, which is a huge part of it,
but being able to share that
with the guests and for them to see it
is a huge part of it too.
We want our guests to feel...
connected to them and,
uh, excited about them
and learn about their story.
Uh, so here they are
and now everyone can see them.
(SNORTS)
NARRATOR: Now, the wait begins to find out
if Betty becomes pregnant
with the park's first ever
babirusa piglet.
SHANA: You have the breeding date
so we'll be able to estimate...
-DAN: Yeah. We'll see...
-...when she's due.
-DAN: ...and hope for the best.
-SHANA: Yeah.
(SNORTING)
NARRATOR:
At the veterinary treatment room,
big Lou, the manatee,
arrives for a scan on his injured tail.
FEMALE VOICE: Truck just pulled in.
He's doing great.
NARRATOR:
For Lou's own safety and comfort,
doctors must fully put him under.
DR. DEIDRE:
The CT scan can take several minutes
and with him breathing and positioning,
we just wanna have better control.
We probably just need, um,
somebody close by.
-So when your team is ready, we'll...
-We're ready.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
NARRATOR: The team gets Lou inside
and preps his tail
for the park's first ever
manatee high definition CT scan.
He has a lot of dead skin...
that's accumulated on the lesion
and I want to
just get it nice and clean.
This is the equivalent
of manatee toe cheese.
-They're ready to go up, guys.
-FEMALE VOICE: Okay.
NARRATOR:
The hydraulic table begins to lift
hefty Lou into position for the scan.
DR. DEIDRE: Feels like we got
a little bit of a tilt going on.
-Yeah.
-DR. NATI: This side is not elevated.
DR. DEIDRE:
Feeling slightly uncomfortable.
-FEMALE VOICE: Can we kinda...
-DR. NATI: Is he centered on the table?
We're really high on this side,
lower on this side.
Our manatee is more than our
hydraulic table is able to handle,
even though the table
should be able to handle it.
It's not working out that way in practice.
Everybody clear of the table.
I guess we need a little extra
pixie dust today.
NARRATOR: With plan A off the table,
the team moves to plan B.
DR. NATI: We're going move
our large CT out
and our small CT machine in
because it's lower
so we won't have to get him up as high,
but we'll still be able to capture
the essential area that we want.
Lou's doing great. He's very stable
under anesthesia, which is really,
really a blessing because it gives us
the time to try a few options.
FEMALE VOICE:
Just a smidge.
So close!
(ALL LAUGH)
NARRATOR: But giant Lou proves too much
for the scanner.
DR. NATI: So, the settings
that we put on the machine
have caused the machine to overheat
because this is much bigger
than anything
we've previously imaged
with this machine.
Okay, so we're done with the CT? Okay.
NARRATOR: But the team can't give up
on getting Lou the care he needs.
They move on to plan C.
DR. NATI: We're gonna move him outside
and start recovering him
from the anesthesia
and we'll take the x-rays
as he's waking up.
All right, everybody back!
Clear.
Maxing out our x-ray machine now?
NARRATOR: It will take time for doctors
to analyze the x-rays.
But after such a big day,
it's time for Lou to go home.
We're getting ready for when he decides
he wants to wake up.
At that point, we'll be able to move him
back to The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
What a good boy!
(TRAIN WHISTLES)
NARRATOR:
One of the park's biggest successes,
bringing new life into the world.
Over the last five years,
there have more than 1,000 births.
And this morning, the newest arrival
has everybody buzzing.
So when we came in this morning
at 5:00 a.m...
...we found that Prima had delivered
her baby overnight.
NARRATOR: Weighing in at 65 pounds,
he's a happy healthy boy.
KENDALL: His head looks, I think,
a little bit, uh,
bigger compared to his body,
but he's still adorable.
Prima and her kid are doing really well.
We're seeing all the behaviors
that we wanna see.
We've seen him nursing,
we've seen her grooming him.
NARRATOR: This hours-old baby boy
doesn't have a name yet.
For now, keepers leave him and mom, Prima,
alone to bond.
But hope he will soon introduce himself
to all the animals of the savanna.
KENDALL: Once he's ready,
he's gonna go with his mom, Prima,
out to the savanna,
get to meet everybody out there.
I think the guests are gonna love
seeing him out there.
Everybody loves babies
and I'm very interested to see
how the other animals interact with him.
NARRATOR: At The Seas, manatee, Lou,
returns home.
He is doing great. We've got a false
bottom floor that allows us
to gradually introduce him
back to water.
We're seeing all good signs
that he's having a great recovery.
NARRATOR: And as Lou chows down
on his leafy greens,
the results from his x-rays come in.
What the x-rays are showing us
is there's no signs of infection
to indicate that he needs any follow-up
medical care.
So that certainly is great news.
NARRATOR: It's a dream result for Lou
and everyone at The Seas.
DR. DEIDRE:
This was a huge, huge team effort.
This animal health and animal care team
never cease to amaze me.
I know they have the capability
to move mountains...
but today, I'll be happy
just moving a manatee.
NARRATOR: At the zebra barn...
Prima's baby boy celebrates
his two-week birthday.
Look at him, being a boy.
He's everything you'd want in a new kid.
It's pretty amazing how well
he can, uh, move around.
NARRATOR: He may not have a name yet,
but keepers believe
he's ready for an adventure.
JEFF: He is going to go out
and experience the savanna.
I think he's gonna have a blast.
NARRATOR: Meaghan and several
other cast members
stand by to monitor the action.
MEAGHAN: Waiting for him already
are couple different species.
Wildebeest are curious by nature.
Something that we are concerned
about is that they could chase him
and he could get separated from mom.
This is Prima's first foal,
and so we're hoping that she has
really strong maternal instincts
and that she protects him.
All right, little lady. Get that man
out there. Let him see the big world.
-(RADIO BEEPING)
-Mom and kid are on show.
MEAGHAN: Oh, my gosh. Look at him.
NARRATOR: Right away, the little guy
gets a lot of attention.
MEAGHAN:
The wildebeest are in the lower meadow
and they are approaching Prima.
We have mom and kid coming back
to visit at the gate.
NARRATOR:
Prima takes no chances with her new baby.
It's the right call.
The sight of her foal
excites the wildebeest
and triggers their natural impulse
to stampede.
MEAGHAN: They're just like,
"Ah, something is new."
(ON RADIO) Yeah, she's looking out to see
where the wildebeest are.
JEFF: He's hanging out with mom,
which is awesome.
NARRATOR:
The wildebeest tire themselves out...
and mom and foal give the savanna
one more try.
MEAGHAN: Oh, I see them.
Prima is doing a good job leading him away
from the cows.
And he's so tiny, but he's...
he's doing it, he's keeping up with her.
NARRATOR: Daddy Domino prepares
to see his son on the savanna
for the first time.
Domino is on his way out,
he's got a little pep in his step.
FEMALE VOICE: Ten-four.
Giddyup.
(DOMINO CHIRPING)
MEAGHAN: I hear him vocalizing right now.
I'm expecting he just saw her
and he's going over to greet her.
Wow, they look so good out here.
NARRATOR: With mom and dad now beside him,
this little foal properly introduces
himself to his nosy neighbors.
Even the excitable wildebeest.
It doesn't get better than this.
This is a really fantastic day.
NARRATOR: And the savanna has more
of these days to look forward to.
MEAGHAN: We're so excited.
Heidi is pregnant and she's due
in a couple of months
and if there's anything cuter
than one baby zebra, it's two baby zebras.
And then, once Clementine is old enough
to reach breeding age, hopefully,
she will breed with Domino, also.
We're well on our way to creating
an established herd.
NARRATOR: Back at The Oasis,
after two months of waiting and hoping,
it's finally time to find out
if Betty carries
the park's first babirusa piglet.
Today, we're gonna do
the first ultrasound with Betty.
Betty, we're over here.
That's such a good girl.
DAN: We've been trying so hard
for so long to have babirusa piglets.
It's just incredibly exciting.
NARRATOR: Dr. Dan examines
the live feed of the scan.
DR. DAN: Can you...
-turn the transducer 90 degrees...
-Mm-hmm.
...staying on that side.
Okay, right there.
Okay, I'm gonna inch little to the left.
-Okay. (LAUGHS) I'm ready.
-(LAUGHS)
Okay, I'm in a really good spot right now.
Okay.
DR. DAN: Dan,
you might wanna look at this.
-I think you got a baby babirusa in here.
-Oh, my gosh.
FEMALE VOICE: What's in there, B?
You got a baby for us?
-Can you see it?
-Yeah.
This, look right here
and you're gonna briefly see
a little dark circle and it's gonna beep,
beep, beep, beep. That's the baby's heart.
(CHUCKLES)
-FEMALE VOICE: Wanna see your baby?
-MALE VOICE: It's right here.
-DR. DAN: Look at it! Good girl.
-Aw. (LAUGHS)
DAN: Yeah, this is what I was waiting for.
(LAUGHS)
-FEMALE VOICE: Are you gonna cry now?
-I'm trying not to.
DR. DAN: It's okay.
-I feel a little emotional right now.
-DAN: Yeah. Oh, absolutely.
DR. DAN: This is amazing.
Catch a little glimpse
of the head right there.
Right here is the rib cage,
these little white lines
coming straight down here.
-FEMALE VOICE: Here?
-Oh, I saw the head again.
NARRATOR: Outside, the team congratulates
the park's newest mom-to-be.
-DAN: Good job, Betty.
-EMILY: Good job, B.
When we first saw the image,
it was the most exciting thing
I've ever felt in this job.
I am so proud of Betty.
EMILY: Working with Betty
has been the highlight of my year
and having that all culminate
with Betty having a baby
is gonna be so exciting.
DAN: She has a very loving nature to her.
She's gonna be an amazing mom.
EMILY: She's gonna be such a good mom.
She's a rock star.
on Magic of Disney's Animal Kingdom,
two plucky pigs go on a blind date...
DAN: It's just incredibly exciting.
NARRATOR: ...a manatee takes to the skies.
FEMALE VOICE:
Lou's going on a little adventure.
NARRATOR: And a zebra foal explores
a brand-new world.
This is a really fantastic day.
-(THEME MUSIC PLAYING)
-(BIRD SQUAWKING)
NARRATOR: Far from hustle and bustle
at the center of the park...
on a secret field
outside of guests' view...
Look how cute they are.
...these Hartmann's mountain zebras
get ready for a big move to a new savanna.
-Giddyup!
-(ALL LAUGH)
I got one. You need help?
The first step,
bringing the animals into holding.
-Everybody's in place. Good to go.
-FEMALE VOICE: We're ready.
NARRATOR: Soon this striped herd will be
on its way to a whole new world.
We are so excited.
The zebras are headed to their new home
as part of the savanna
on the Kilimanjaro Safari.
It has been years since zebra have been
on this savanna,
and Hartmann's mountain zebra
have never been.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNT)
MEAGHAN: This is gonna be a new experience
for all the other animals
on the savanna as well.
Many of them have never seen zebra.
(COW MOOS)
MEAGHAN: These are wild animals.
We can't really
predict how they're gonna react.
It's our job to make sure
that this goes smoothly.
Zebra do tend to be pretty mischievous
though, so there is a good chance
that they will be getting
into some trouble at some point.
NARRATOR: To get to their new home,
this mischievous group
must follow their keeper's lead.
-MEAGHAN: Are you ready to go?
-I'm ready, let's do this.
Domino!
NARRATOR: But these guys...
Come on, big boy.
NARRATOR: ...just wanna horse around.
MEAGHAN: Domino is a beloved animal,
and he loves to roll in dirt.
He's pretty goofy in that regard.
We have Prima, she's the boss lady.
She has a very bold personality.
(CHUCKLES)
Heidi is very calm and docile.
Clementine is joining in.
She's the youngest, at about a year old,
and she has a lot of energy.
She is spunky
and definitely has a mischievous side.
-(ZEBRA BRAYING)
-(MEAGHAN LAUGHING)
Love her.
(BRAYING)
MEAGHAN: Hartmann's mountain zebra
have really big personalities and so,
as we move them to their trailer,
we need to be on our toes.
Whoa!
We have a lot of work ahead of us.
NARRATOR: And the team has one
scrumptious surprise to entice them
into their holding pens.
-MEAGHAN: Domino, Prima!
-(SHAKING TREATS)
MEAGHAN:
I've got some tasty treats for you.
Come on! That was fast.
(ALL LAUGH)
MEAGHAN: Good job, Prima.
NARRATOR: The next challenge, safely guide
the zebras into transport trailers
that will take them to their new home.
We're gonna load Prima first,
Domino second.
Hopefully, things will be nice
and smooth.
FEMALE VOICE: Come on, mama.
You're good, you're good.
NARRATOR: Prima, Domino, and Heidi
go in without a hitch.
Rascally youngster Clementine loads last.
FEMALE VOICE: With Clementine being young,
who knows what she's gonna do.
Tell her to release... Clementine.
FEMALE VOICE: Go on, pretty girl.
Aw. Pretty girl. Come on, pretty girl.
Come on! I need you to turn back around.
Other way, other way!
FEMALE VOICE:
Clementine, come on!
-FEMALE VOICE 1: There you go!
-FEMALE VOICE 2: Yes! She is in there.
(CHUCKLES)
Didn't think she was gonna go in.
I would see her little head
and then she would just, like, "No."
FEMALE VOICE: Giddyup, giddyup!
NARRATOR: Next stop,
the zebras' new savanna barn...
Why is she so cute?
NARRATOR: ...as they get ready to meet
their new neighbors.
We're very excited.
They're finally here. Yeah!
The fun is just beginning. (LAUGHING)
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
NARRATOR: Speaking of exciting futures,
at The Oasis...
EMILY: Hey, girlfriend.
NARRATOR: ...keeper Emily hopes
this very special pig...
EMILY: Hi. It's okay.
NARRATOR: ...will do something
never done before at the park.
She came to us in hopes
that we will have piglets.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has never had
baby babirusas,
so this would be a first for us.
It would be really cool
for this animal to be that first one.
(MUNCHES)
KATIE: You find some yummy?
She's the cutest.
NARRATOR: To have piglets, Betty needs
a boyfriend, and bachelor, Mentari...
heads her way.
DAN: Good boy. You're okay. Good boy.
He's doing pretty good
and exploring his new home.
Only the males have the tusks,
and they're basically just extensions
of their teeth.
He's adorable. We're very excited
that he's here with us.
All right. That's it, buddy.
I have no more food. Good boy!
Mentari seems to be a lot more calm
than Betty.
She is more likely to run around
and get more excited,
a little bit more nervous.
Mentari here is a lot more calm,
more low-key.
(BLOWS WHISTLE)
FEMALE VOICE: Good boy.
DAN: Our dream is that
they'll like each other enough
to mate and have piglets.
FEMALE VOICE: Hi, handsome.
NARRATOR:
To see if Betty and Mentari hit it off...
You want me to go in
and open her stall door?
NARRATOR:
...keepers plan a surprise blind date.
DAN: It'll be the first time
that Betty is meeting Mentari.
So, they're just gonna be able
to see each other
through a little window.
So we'll see how they'll react.
(BLOWING WHISTLE)
NARRATOR: Betty saunters backstage.
Her sensitive snout tells her
romance could be around the corner.
DAN: She knows that someone's down here,
although she hasn't seen him yet.
She knows that something is different
than normal.
You wanna come meet your boyfriend?
We'll just give her the time.
We're not gonna force Betty
to do anything.
We're gonna let her take her time
and come down when she's comfortable to.
NARRATOR: Just when it looks like Mentari
is gonna get stood up...
DAN: What are you doing?
All right, she's in the stall
so they're probably getting a visual
of each other
for the first time right now.
NARRATOR: But love at first snout
remains a question.
DAN: You see him.
Well, she definitely saw him,
and now she's eating some food.
(DAN CHUCKLING)
Good girl. Oh, you see him?
He's right there.
Nope, the food is more interesting
right now.
NARRATOR: While Betty gets her fill,
Mentari has an appetite for love.
DAN: Mentari is very interested in her.
We hear a little bit of grunting sounds.
(GRUNTING)
DAN: What are you doing, buddy?
NARRATOR:
With at least Mentari getting the feels...
keepers decide to set up a second date.
But for piglet success,
they must wait for the perfect moment.
DAN: She's only capable of becoming
pregnant for a very short window.
If the next date goes as good as today,
then we definitely have a good shot
at having a baby babirusa.
NARRATOR: At 110 acres,
the Kilimanjaro Safaris
is the largest attraction
in all of the Walt Disney World Resort.
-To keep it trucking...
-Awesome.
NARRATOR: ...every morning,
work starts well before guests arrive.
(ENGINE REVS)
(HONKING)
The double honk is so...
people around me know that I'm moving.
NARRATOR: It's 8:00 a.m...
Meghan heads out
on her own personal safari
to check that it's ready
for the day ahead.
It's called the test truck ride.
MEGHAN: Being a test truck out here,
we're making sure
that the ride path is good,
making sure all the water levels
are good for the animals
and they're all filled where
they're supposed to be filled.
The first area of the reserve
that we're entering in here,
this is the little Ituri forest here.
These are the bongos!
Aren't they beautiful?
I love them.
It takes about 20 minutes
to drive the ride path...
unless an animal gets in the road...
(LAUGHING) ...which happens,
happens pretty frequently.
This is their home.
Yeah, we're just visitors.
(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: And up ahead...
Okay.
(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: ...some residents exercise
their right of way.
And they'll take all the time they need.
-MEGHAN: The ducks are not afraid.
-(DUCKS QUACKING)
NARRATOR: But it puts her in
the perfect place to see... and hear...
-(LION ROARS)
-NARRATOR: ...and hear...
Yeah... oh, yeah!
(LION ROARS)
NARRATOR: ...the king and queens
of the safari.
-MEGHAN: Yay, they're gonna respond.
-(ROARS)
(LIONS ROARING)
MEGHAN: They are...
my favorite animals out here,
so getting to hear them roar
and vocalize, that is always
really emotional for me...
just 'cause it's so amazing, and it's...
honestly, it's the best sound that
you will ever hear in your entire life.
(CHUCKLES) She's staring right at us now.
And there they go. All right.
That's my lion soap opera.
(CHUCKLES)
MEGHAN: Now that the test trucks
have gone through the ride path...
we can start letting guests on
for the day.
NARRATOR: For the
executive creative designer of the park...
This is kind of the coolest thing.
NARRATOR: ...the safari experience
offers something deeper
than a sightseeing adventure.
JOE: Conservation is intrinsic
to Disney's Animal Kingdom.
Everything revolves around the idea
that nature
is a supreme value.
It can't be traded, it can't be replaced.
Over the course of the years
that we've run Animal Kingdom,
Masai giraffe have become endangered,
so these environments
where you can manage a population,
like these giraffes,
are more important today
than when we opened this park.
If you pay attention
to the world of nature,
you learn that all of us in some way
can be part of this conservation story.
NARRATOR: And now, this conservation story
adds a whole new chapter.
It's happening.
FEMALE VOICE:
NARRATOR: Domino and Prima
get their chance to become the first ever
Hartmann's mountain zebras
on the savanna.
I'm thrilled. I'm looking forward
to seeing them out there.
FEMALE VOICE:
(INHALES DEEPLY)
Just wait in anticipation for them,
uh, to appear in their new home.
Here we go.
(UPBEAT MUSIC PLAYING)
JEFF: I think it's awesome.
I have missed having zebra out here.
One of my favorite species.
Zebra are cooler than giraffes.
I said it. I said it aloud.
NARRATOR: But how the other animals
will react... remains unknown.
JEFF: So, our first encounter
with the other animals.
The wildebeest
have definitely noticed them.
(CHUCKLES) Oh my goodness!
That zebra thing's walking towards us.
(WILDEBEEST GRUNTING)
JEFF: It's been a long time.
A lot of these animals haven't seen zebra.
Cows are curious about them.
Springboks are looking.
Somebody's really checking them out,
it looks like Stephanie.
Wildebeest, look at them.
Nosy neighbors, still.
Still looking and following
from a distance.
What's with these striped critters?
And as it should be.
Zebra don't care, everybody else does.
(CHUCKLES)
NARRATOR: And while others look on...
Prima makes herself right at home.
JEFF: Oh, there she goes.
Get that big ole belly
to move in the dirt.
It's wonderful.
NARRATOR: And these nosy neighbors
will soon have another
new arrival to gawk at
because that big old belly
holds a stripy surprise.
MEAGHAN: There's something
really special about Prima.
She is pregnant, and Domino is the father.
So, soon we will have
a nice family herd out there.
I'm thrilled. There's not really much
cuter than a zebra baby.
It just makes me so excited
and gets me out of bed at morning.
JEFF: It's gonna be really cool
having a new, uh, zebra kid out there.
That's really gonna cause a stir.
NARRATOR: Over at Epcot...
while guests explore
The Seas with Nemo and Friends...
backstage, it's mission critical.
(INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)
NARRATOR: Lou, the manatee,
needs urgent medical attention.
KIM: All right, everybody.
I think we're ready
for a debrief, real quick.
This morning we're going to be, um...
taking Lou on a little adventure
over to the hospital for a little CT scan.
NARRATOR: The CT scan
will focus on an injury Lou suffered
before he arrived at The Seas,
when he lost 90 percent of his tail
in a boat strike.
A recent checkup reveals
it could be infected.
CONRAD:
We took a look underneath Lou's tail
and there did seem
to be some inflammation
and that's something that we wanna
jump on really quick
and treat it as soon as possible.
We wanna hang on to what's there.
NARRATOR: The team plans to transport
big Lou five miles away
to the veterinary treatment room
for a high def CT scan...
something they've never attempted before
with a manatee.
CONRAD: Lou is a friendly giant.
We wanna do everything we can
to keep him happy and healthy.
NARRATOR: Dr. Deidre is on hand
to look after Lou throughout his trip.
Okay. Yeah.
Lou, I'm not leaving your side.
We have everything from plan A to plan Z
in case we get delivered any curveballs
along the way.
NARRATOR: The first challenge,
the trip to the transport truck outside.
But Lou's way too big to simply go out
the front door.
We're gonna put him in a stretcher,
we're gonna fly him thought the skylight
up onto third floor roof.
NARRATOR: So 1,800-pound Lou will fly,
courtesy of a crane.
KIM: That's all right, pull it up
enough for me to grab it and I'll get it.
MALE VOICE: Stretcher is in the building.
KIM: All right, Dave. Here we go.
Flip those. Good.
MALE VOICE 1:
MALE VOICE 2:
-He's doing it himself.
-DR. DEIDRE: Yeah.
MALE VOICE 2:
DR. DEIDRE: We're ready.
NARRATOR: We have liftoff!
Since he's a mammal, Lou can breathe
out of water as he ascends.
DR. DEIDRE: You can imagine
what that sensation must feel like,
being in a crane
and lifted out of a ceiling.
Just make sure you like
where he's positioned as he comes down.
It's unseasonably cold today,
so we are just covering him with blankets.
It's really, really critical that
we keep him as warm as we can.
-MALE VOICE 1: Forward. Up.
-MALE VOICE 2: Is that enough?
-MALE VOICE 1: Good!
-Okay.
-Ready to be locked up?
-MALE VOICE: Lock us in!
Yeah, let's do it!
DR. DEIDRE: We're really excited that
things are going so smoothly.
We're looking forward to going,
heading over to Animal Kingdom.
NARRATOR: At The Oasis...
nine days after her first date,
Betty may want to take her relationship
with Mentari to the next level.
Just yesterday, we started seeing
the physical signs.
She is cycling now. She's in estrus.
That means she is within the time period
that she is capable of becoming pregnant
so this is the perfect time for us
to try for some baby pigs.
(SNORTS)
DAN: There is the possibility
that there'll be some aggression.
Uh, it's actually kind of expected.
They have to kinda get to establish
their relationship.
So, hopefully, they'll show interest
in each other though.
We want them to breed, we want piglets.
(INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC PLAYING)
NARRATOR:
Betty gets a whiff that love may be near.
Snout to snout,
sniffing quickly turns to flirting.
DAN: Things are looking good right now.
If this continues, we'll let them out.
They'll have more room out there.
NARRATOR: Outside...
There they are! (CHUCKLES)
NARRATOR: ...these piggy paramours
waste no time showing affection.
DAN:
It looks like he's actually mounting her.
-It's like picture perfect.
-(WALKIE-TALKIE BEEPS)
-DAN: They're doing really well.
-SHANA: Yay!
It's not just about their success
in breeding, which is a huge part of it,
but being able to share that
with the guests and for them to see it
is a huge part of it too.
We want our guests to feel...
connected to them and,
uh, excited about them
and learn about their story.
Uh, so here they are
and now everyone can see them.
(SNORTS)
NARRATOR: Now, the wait begins to find out
if Betty becomes pregnant
with the park's first ever
babirusa piglet.
SHANA: You have the breeding date
so we'll be able to estimate...
-DAN: Yeah. We'll see...
-...when she's due.
-DAN: ...and hope for the best.
-SHANA: Yeah.
(SNORTING)
NARRATOR:
At the veterinary treatment room,
big Lou, the manatee,
arrives for a scan on his injured tail.
FEMALE VOICE: Truck just pulled in.
He's doing great.
NARRATOR:
For Lou's own safety and comfort,
doctors must fully put him under.
DR. DEIDRE:
The CT scan can take several minutes
and with him breathing and positioning,
we just wanna have better control.
We probably just need, um,
somebody close by.
-So when your team is ready, we'll...
-We're ready.
(INDISTINCT CHATTER)
NARRATOR: The team gets Lou inside
and preps his tail
for the park's first ever
manatee high definition CT scan.
He has a lot of dead skin...
that's accumulated on the lesion
and I want to
just get it nice and clean.
This is the equivalent
of manatee toe cheese.
-They're ready to go up, guys.
-FEMALE VOICE: Okay.
NARRATOR:
The hydraulic table begins to lift
hefty Lou into position for the scan.
DR. DEIDRE: Feels like we got
a little bit of a tilt going on.
-Yeah.
-DR. NATI: This side is not elevated.
DR. DEIDRE:
Feeling slightly uncomfortable.
-FEMALE VOICE: Can we kinda...
-DR. NATI: Is he centered on the table?
We're really high on this side,
lower on this side.
Our manatee is more than our
hydraulic table is able to handle,
even though the table
should be able to handle it.
It's not working out that way in practice.
Everybody clear of the table.
I guess we need a little extra
pixie dust today.
NARRATOR: With plan A off the table,
the team moves to plan B.
DR. NATI: We're going move
our large CT out
and our small CT machine in
because it's lower
so we won't have to get him up as high,
but we'll still be able to capture
the essential area that we want.
Lou's doing great. He's very stable
under anesthesia, which is really,
really a blessing because it gives us
the time to try a few options.
FEMALE VOICE:
Just a smidge.
So close!
(ALL LAUGH)
NARRATOR: But giant Lou proves too much
for the scanner.
DR. NATI: So, the settings
that we put on the machine
have caused the machine to overheat
because this is much bigger
than anything
we've previously imaged
with this machine.
Okay, so we're done with the CT? Okay.
NARRATOR: But the team can't give up
on getting Lou the care he needs.
They move on to plan C.
DR. NATI: We're gonna move him outside
and start recovering him
from the anesthesia
and we'll take the x-rays
as he's waking up.
All right, everybody back!
Clear.
Maxing out our x-ray machine now?
NARRATOR: It will take time for doctors
to analyze the x-rays.
But after such a big day,
it's time for Lou to go home.
We're getting ready for when he decides
he wants to wake up.
At that point, we'll be able to move him
back to The Seas with Nemo and Friends.
What a good boy!
(TRAIN WHISTLES)
NARRATOR:
One of the park's biggest successes,
bringing new life into the world.
Over the last five years,
there have more than 1,000 births.
And this morning, the newest arrival
has everybody buzzing.
So when we came in this morning
at 5:00 a.m...
...we found that Prima had delivered
her baby overnight.
NARRATOR: Weighing in at 65 pounds,
he's a happy healthy boy.
KENDALL: His head looks, I think,
a little bit, uh,
bigger compared to his body,
but he's still adorable.
Prima and her kid are doing really well.
We're seeing all the behaviors
that we wanna see.
We've seen him nursing,
we've seen her grooming him.
NARRATOR: This hours-old baby boy
doesn't have a name yet.
For now, keepers leave him and mom, Prima,
alone to bond.
But hope he will soon introduce himself
to all the animals of the savanna.
KENDALL: Once he's ready,
he's gonna go with his mom, Prima,
out to the savanna,
get to meet everybody out there.
I think the guests are gonna love
seeing him out there.
Everybody loves babies
and I'm very interested to see
how the other animals interact with him.
NARRATOR: At The Seas, manatee, Lou,
returns home.
He is doing great. We've got a false
bottom floor that allows us
to gradually introduce him
back to water.
We're seeing all good signs
that he's having a great recovery.
NARRATOR: And as Lou chows down
on his leafy greens,
the results from his x-rays come in.
What the x-rays are showing us
is there's no signs of infection
to indicate that he needs any follow-up
medical care.
So that certainly is great news.
NARRATOR: It's a dream result for Lou
and everyone at The Seas.
DR. DEIDRE:
This was a huge, huge team effort.
This animal health and animal care team
never cease to amaze me.
I know they have the capability
to move mountains...
but today, I'll be happy
just moving a manatee.
NARRATOR: At the zebra barn...
Prima's baby boy celebrates
his two-week birthday.
Look at him, being a boy.
He's everything you'd want in a new kid.
It's pretty amazing how well
he can, uh, move around.
NARRATOR: He may not have a name yet,
but keepers believe
he's ready for an adventure.
JEFF: He is going to go out
and experience the savanna.
I think he's gonna have a blast.
NARRATOR: Meaghan and several
other cast members
stand by to monitor the action.
MEAGHAN: Waiting for him already
are couple different species.
Wildebeest are curious by nature.
Something that we are concerned
about is that they could chase him
and he could get separated from mom.
This is Prima's first foal,
and so we're hoping that she has
really strong maternal instincts
and that she protects him.
All right, little lady. Get that man
out there. Let him see the big world.
-(RADIO BEEPING)
-Mom and kid are on show.
MEAGHAN: Oh, my gosh. Look at him.
NARRATOR: Right away, the little guy
gets a lot of attention.
MEAGHAN:
The wildebeest are in the lower meadow
and they are approaching Prima.
We have mom and kid coming back
to visit at the gate.
NARRATOR:
Prima takes no chances with her new baby.
It's the right call.
The sight of her foal
excites the wildebeest
and triggers their natural impulse
to stampede.
MEAGHAN: They're just like,
"Ah, something is new."
(ON RADIO) Yeah, she's looking out to see
where the wildebeest are.
JEFF: He's hanging out with mom,
which is awesome.
NARRATOR:
The wildebeest tire themselves out...
and mom and foal give the savanna
one more try.
MEAGHAN: Oh, I see them.
Prima is doing a good job leading him away
from the cows.
And he's so tiny, but he's...
he's doing it, he's keeping up with her.
NARRATOR: Daddy Domino prepares
to see his son on the savanna
for the first time.
Domino is on his way out,
he's got a little pep in his step.
FEMALE VOICE: Ten-four.
Giddyup.
(DOMINO CHIRPING)
MEAGHAN: I hear him vocalizing right now.
I'm expecting he just saw her
and he's going over to greet her.
Wow, they look so good out here.
NARRATOR: With mom and dad now beside him,
this little foal properly introduces
himself to his nosy neighbors.
Even the excitable wildebeest.
It doesn't get better than this.
This is a really fantastic day.
NARRATOR: And the savanna has more
of these days to look forward to.
MEAGHAN: We're so excited.
Heidi is pregnant and she's due
in a couple of months
and if there's anything cuter
than one baby zebra, it's two baby zebras.
And then, once Clementine is old enough
to reach breeding age, hopefully,
she will breed with Domino, also.
We're well on our way to creating
an established herd.
NARRATOR: Back at The Oasis,
after two months of waiting and hoping,
it's finally time to find out
if Betty carries
the park's first babirusa piglet.
Today, we're gonna do
the first ultrasound with Betty.
Betty, we're over here.
That's such a good girl.
DAN: We've been trying so hard
for so long to have babirusa piglets.
It's just incredibly exciting.
NARRATOR: Dr. Dan examines
the live feed of the scan.
DR. DAN: Can you...
-turn the transducer 90 degrees...
-Mm-hmm.
...staying on that side.
Okay, right there.
Okay, I'm gonna inch little to the left.
-Okay. (LAUGHS) I'm ready.
-(LAUGHS)
Okay, I'm in a really good spot right now.
Okay.
DR. DAN: Dan,
you might wanna look at this.
-I think you got a baby babirusa in here.
-Oh, my gosh.
FEMALE VOICE: What's in there, B?
You got a baby for us?
-Can you see it?
-Yeah.
This, look right here
and you're gonna briefly see
a little dark circle and it's gonna beep,
beep, beep, beep. That's the baby's heart.
(CHUCKLES)
-FEMALE VOICE: Wanna see your baby?
-MALE VOICE: It's right here.
-DR. DAN: Look at it! Good girl.
-Aw. (LAUGHS)
DAN: Yeah, this is what I was waiting for.
(LAUGHS)
-FEMALE VOICE: Are you gonna cry now?
-I'm trying not to.
DR. DAN: It's okay.
-I feel a little emotional right now.
-DAN: Yeah. Oh, absolutely.
DR. DAN: This is amazing.
Catch a little glimpse
of the head right there.
Right here is the rib cage,
these little white lines
coming straight down here.
-FEMALE VOICE: Here?
-Oh, I saw the head again.
NARRATOR: Outside, the team congratulates
the park's newest mom-to-be.
-DAN: Good job, Betty.
-EMILY: Good job, B.
When we first saw the image,
it was the most exciting thing
I've ever felt in this job.
I am so proud of Betty.
EMILY: Working with Betty
has been the highlight of my year
and having that all culminate
with Betty having a baby
is gonna be so exciting.
DAN: She has a very loving nature to her.
She's gonna be an amazing mom.
EMILY: She's gonna be such a good mom.
She's a rock star.