White Stork

Species: White Stork
Habitat: The Old World
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Tree of Life Gardens

On a hidden path behind the Tree of Life, one can find these graceful birds living along the Discovery river. They are nearly a global species being found throughout the old world. It is a long distance migrant, breeding in Europe (all the way to Finland), northern Africa and Southwestern Asia, while wintering in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Indian subcontinent. When traveling from Europe though, it detours around the Mediterranean sea, over the straights of Gibraltar.

Like all storks, it has a long beak, neck and legs, to help catch its food, insects, reptiles and amphibians. They are quite social, with sometimes thousands making up a flock in migration. Although the social structure is loose, there is behavior like allopreening that helps maintain bonds, They also make a noise called bill clattering that sounds like a machine gun and is made with a rapid clicking of the bill amplified by a throat pouch.

In the 1980s, this bird was considered Near Threatened but it is now classified as of Least Concern. Due to its widespread distribution, it is the focus of many cultural stories. Not the least of which is the belief in European folklore that storks delivered newborns. German folklore had storks finding babies in caves only to bring them to deserving parents. Slavic folklore held that storks carried unborn souls to Earth. Because one stop on migration routes was Mecca, the bird is revered in Islamic cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the bird was associated with the hieroglyph for soul. Also, this one species is focus of at least three Aesop fables.

Sumatran Tiger

Species: Sumatran tiger
Habitat: Broadleaf forests, swamps and grasslands of Sumatra
Status: Critically endangered
DAK Locale: Maharajah Jungle Trek

One of the newest species to call Animal Kingdom home is also one of its rarest. This species of tiger is found only in isolated pockets on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. It is the smallest of the 5 remaining subspecies of tiger which is likely due to living in the dense undergrowth of the Indonesian jungle. Full grown males top out at about 300 pounds, compared to Siberian tiger males that can exceed 600 pounds. They are distinguishable not only by their size but by their large dark stripes and deeper color of orange.

Like all tigers, they hunt and generally live alone. They kill by stalking their prey until they are close and can ambush. The dinner menu includes the large mammals of the island, such as deer and boar. They are also good in water, as Sumatran tigers have partially webbed toes.

Mothers give birth to up to 5 cubs. These cubs weigh only about 2 pounds and are blind. After 2 months, the mother starts to wean them from milk and begins introducing meat. The cubs will stay with the mother until about 18 months of age when they are ready to find their own territory.

Like all tiger species, they suffer from illegal poaching for fur and Asian folk medicines even though it is illegal in Indonesia. Penalties of fines and jail time are significant for tiger poaching but it is difficult as law enforcement is very understaffed with a bare bones budget. There are only between 300 and 400 animals left in the wild and they are in fragmented gene pools due to heavy deforestation on the island. Genetic diversity is becoming an increasingly difficult problem. The deforestation and population growth has led to another serious issue - increasing conflicts with man. Attacks on people are more common now simply because there are more people near tiger habitat. There are also increases in the number of livestock killed by tigers as food for the cats runs out. It is becoming an untenable situation.

Blue tongued skink

Species: Blue tongued skink
Habitat: Woodland and Forests of  Eastern Australia
Status: Least Concern
DAK Locale: Rafiki's Planet Watch

The name of this lizard comes from, as I am sure you can guess, its bright blue tongue. The animal uses it as a defensive measure, essentially trying to freak out would be predators with its bright color accompanied with a viscous hiss. The species found at the Animal Kingdom is common in eastern Australia. There are other types of blue tongued skinks are found throughout the continent and Indonesia.

These animals are omnivores eating all types of plant and flesh. They commonly eat insects, snails, flowers and fruits. They do not have teeth but the jaw is powerful and can cling onto adversaries including potential predators. They are typically diurnal using the sun to heat up and search for food. It can, like some other lizards, detach the tail in an emergency. It will eventually grow back.

Most species of the blue tongued skink are doing well with stable populations. They are very popular in the pet trade, due to their gentle demeanor and relatively easy care. Despite this popularity they are still quite common in the Australian wild.