Endangered white rhinoceros sports fitness tracker at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Guests aboard Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom may notice some of the rhinos are sporting fitness trackers to help better understand their behavior.
The trackers will help the Animal, Science and Environment team understand the role of physical fitness in the overall health of rhinos as part of a larger, collaborative research project with rhinos from accredited zoos and wildlife centers across the U.S.
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Because of the built-in accelerometer, the team can track the distance the rhinos cover by running and walking around the savanna.
It will also help better track their sleeping and napping schedules.
Photos: Endangered white rhinoceros sports fitness tracker at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The built-in GPS will allow the team to see where on the savanna the rhinos like to spend their time and find out which habitats are most popular to them.
Managed rhino populations are becoming increasingly important for the survival of the species due to illegal poaching in the wild.
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Once complete, this research will be compiled and shared with animal care professionals at 74 Association of Zoos and Aquariums accredited facilities, helping ensure rhinos receive the best care for many generations to come.
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