Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom Returns to Nat Geo on January 1
Animal lovers can kick off the new year with some awesome programming courtesy of Animal Kingdom and National Geographic. Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be making its debut on January 1st on National Geographic. You can also catch the episodes three days later on Disney+.
The 10-episode docu series provides an all-access pass to explore the magic found at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT and Tri-Circle-D Ranch. Across these locations you’ll find over 300 species and 5,000 plus animals.
Here’s a sneak peek of some of the amazing and inspiring stories that will unfold this season:
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Giraffic Jam”- Sun, Jan. 1 at 8/7c on National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD
Watch as giraffes on the savanna hold up guest traffic and find a way to get more food from keeper Rory. You’ll also meet Tolstoy the 100+ year old loggerhead sea turtle who undergoes treatment to help him eat property. The episode also features new hippo Rosie who attempts to make friends with the rest of the bloat along with a brown lemur gets ready to celebrate his birthday in style.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Sea You Later, Turtles!”- Sun, Jan. 1 at 9/8c on National Geographic and Nat Geo WILD
Nadirah and Mac the elephants go on their first date, and hopefully create a new life. You’ll also be introduced to one of Cinderella’s ponies – Lilly who fulfills her destiny and makes a bride’s dream come true. Tiny wild turtles hatch at Disney’s Vero Beach and Spike the gorilla struggles with lasting effects of a dangerous infection and severe osteoarthritis.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Sea Turtle SOS”- Fri, Jan. 6 at 10/9c on National Geographic
Meet a group of rescued wild sea turtles who arrive at EPCOT and need urgent medial care. Watch as they are released back into the ocean. The episode also follows a rhino receives special treatment backstage after he cracks his horn, the Disney team creates a new chew toy to entrain the lion pride and Heidi the Hartmann’s mountain zebra gives birth!
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Okapi Bundle of Joy”- Fri, Jan. 13 at 10/9c on National Geographic
Speaking of animal babies, Olivia, an opaki, has a successful ultrasound scan and goes on to give birth to a healthy baby. Logan the raven learns some new tricks before wowing audiences during his stage show. Princess the elderly mandril arrives at the park in search of a new home and Disney’s first blacktip reef shark prepares to join the main underwater environment at The Seas.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Gorilla Divemaster”- Fri, Jan. 20 at 10/9c on National Geographic
A lowland gorilla takes a road trip to receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a black rhinoceros fitted with a fitness tracker to study his movements. The veterinary team investigates what might be causing a roan antelope to drastically lose weight and the Galapagos tortoises celebrating their 10th birthdays.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Flocks of Love”- Fri, Jan. 27 at 10/9c on National Geographic
Lily the Mascai giraffe gets an X-ray to determine if she’s broken her toe. She’s reluctant to be anesthetized. We’ll also take a closer look at the park’s tight-knit pack of painted dog brothers must be separated to get their annual health check. The lesser flamingo flocks gets a visit from the stork with a very cute addition new arrival.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: That’s Amore Eel”- Fri, Feb. 3 at 10/9c on National Geographic
Sigsbee the anemic moray eel gets a health check. Tequila the Nile hippopotamus has a toothache. You’ll also meet Hank, the wild gopher tortoise who digs herself a new home. Steve, the purple martin disappears and Harper a white-cheeked gibbon prepares to leave the park to start a family.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Chilled-Out Cheetahs”- Fri, Feb. 10 at 10/9c on National Geographic
A zebra has to undergo abdominal surgery due to a horn injury. Two meerkats jostle for a top position in the meerkat family. A frogfish has a bone graft to mend his broken jaw and Disney Imagineers build a motorized ball to help keep a trio of chilled-out cheetah entertained.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Giant Leap for Rhinokind”- Fri, Feb. 17 at 10/9c on National Geographic
An antelope is losing weight fast and needs urgent surgery. A baby rhino takes her first steps into the savanna and a dig-happy warthog gets a pedicure. You’ll also meet a manatee who needs to visit the dentist with a toothache.
“Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Gesundheit, Jolo!”- Fri, Feb. 24 at 10/9c on National Geographic
Meet Jojo, the rescued manatee who battles a potentially deadly parasitic infection that puts her release into jeopardy. Kianga, the elephant throws a temper tantrum in the pool. Maathai, the cheetah, also has tummy troubles that warrant further attention.
‘Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’ was filmed over five months, the series highlights the magic found around every corner at the animal kingdom. You’ll learn that not only is Animal Kingdom an incredible theme park but also one of the world’s most advanced animal health facilities.
Readers are encouraged to keep following along with MickeyBlog for further Disney+ news and updates.
Did you know? Disney packages for 2023 are now available to book!
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