How Disney Used 3D Printing for Conservation at Disney Lookout Cay!
Last year, Disney Cruise Line revealed their newest destination — Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. This spot is located in The Bahamas, and we got to check it out for ourselves!
Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point
We’ve also been learning about Disney’s conservation efforts on the island, and they just shared another look at how they’re using technology and innovation to preserve nature at Lookout Cay.
Bird Conservation at Disney Lookout Cay
Disney has been making some major conservation efforts at their new Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point in The Bahamas! To make sure their vacation destination has minimal impact on the local Eleutheran ecosystem and animal habitats, Disney’s wildlife experts have been carrying out a variety of projects to promote the conservation of land crabs, birds, marine life, and more on the island.
One of the challenges they faced was attracting one of the world’s most intelligent and elusive birds to study its movements to help preserve its environment.
The great lizard cuckoo is only found in The Bahamas and Cuba and is a resident species at Disney Lookout Cay. It’s one of the island’s “ambassador species” that dots the Nature Trail to represent the biodiversity of The Bahamas.
Photo: Disney
Since it’s such a smart bird, the Conservation Team had trouble catching and tagging the species using traditional techniques. So, how did they do this? By using a 3D printer and some handy dandy paint brushing!
Together with the Animals, Science and Environment’s own Science Team and technology experts across Disney, the team 3D printed a model of a great lizard cuckoo that was hand painted to match the bird’s dazzling and colorful markings.
Photo: Disney
The final model of the bird is 17 inches from beak to tail and it took over 12 hours to print and several hours to paint by hand. You can see the models on display over at Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Animal Kingdom in Disney World!
The team also printed models of a Bahamas mocking bird, Kirtland’s warbler, and a merlin.
Photo: Disney
The effort was a success! The model combined with a recording of the bird’s call helped the Conservation Team attract and tag a great lizard cuckoo at Disney Lookout Cay. The bird was then outfitted with a small radio transmitter so the team could track its movements as it comes and goes.
From this project and many others, Disney’s Conservation Team has gathered 35 million data points from all species of birds, which has made a major difference in the construction and operation of the destination!
Photo: Disney
See the process below!
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It also gives Disney Cast Members the opportunity to be in the field and learn more about the native wildlife in The Bahamas, and they’ve been sharing their findings with local organizations to benefit the greater Bahamian community.
The project is a great example of Disney Planet Possible — it’s put possibility into practice and allowed Disney to do their part conserving natural resources, caring for wildlife and their habitats, using and wasting less, and creating stories that inspire action.
Family Beach
Disney’s commitment to protecting the natural beauty of The Bahamas spans decades, dating back to Earth Day on April 22nd, 1995, through the Disney Conservation Fund. Since its launch, the fund has provided more than 80 grants to support community conservation organizations in The Bahamas!
Stay tuned for more Disney news and updates!
