From 3D Printed Remote-controlled Toys to Tasty Popsicles: Even Disney Animals Are Having Fun

04.01.2024 - 19:25 / breakingtravelnews.com

By employing the latest in 3D printing, motorized mechanics, and innovative uses for recycled items, the creative minds at Walt Disney Imagineering have collaborated with the animal care team at Walt Disney World Resort to roll out new enrichment opportunities for the animals that call the park home.

Hundreds of unique species depend on the team at Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment daily, not only for their ongoing health and development, but also to provide mental and physical enrichment. By adding in the creativity of Walt Disney Imagineering, the teams continue to innovate new enrichment activities together, developing imaginative techniques and inventions to engage the animals and encourage natural behaviors for mental and physical stimulation, ultimately enhancing overall wellbeing.

Driving Innovation with 3D Printing

Innovation is key when it comes to creating complex enrichment opportunities for animals such as cheetahs. Recently, teams across Walt Disney World created a highly innovative form of enrichment known as a cheetah ball. This ball is motorized and allows cheetahs to chase a moving object as they would in the wild. With the help of animal keepers and a remote control, the ball helps to engage the animal’s natural instincts to hunt and run. Parts of the motorized cheetah ball were created using a 3D printer and the help of a few engineers. You can see the ball and cheetahs in action on season two of “Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom,” now streaming on Disney+.

Creative Enrichment for All Animals at Walt Disney World Resort

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The animal care team tailors enrichment to the unique needs of every animal at Walt Disney World. For example, lions hunt as a vital part of their natural behavior; as a result, enrichment is created to encourage specific behaviors, including stalking, pawing, biting and clawing. To bring out those instincts, the team created a warthog-shaped ice sculpture designed to spark their curiosity. The ice sculpture was then coated with mud obtained from the warthog habitat to engage the lions’ sense of smell too. This form of enrichment not only provides lions the opportunity to mimic hunting behavior in their habitats but also serves as a means for helping the animals to cool off.

New Uses for Recycled Items

Recycling existing materials is another innovative way of creating enrichment. Great examples include recycled water bottles and coolers turned into warthog feeders, faux “logs” that store treats for primates and old fire hoses woven into different shapes, making them the perfect enrichment for rhinos.

Some of these enrichment items used by the animal care team are made of recycled objects guests would once see or use in resorts across Walt