Raisin, the Ankole calf born in October, hit the savanna at Disney's Animal Kingdom on a rainy Tuesday morning. Right now her horns are tiny bumps. Adult Ankole horns can stretch up to 8 feet tip to tip.
Disney's Animal Kingdom has a new face on the savanna. Raisin, a female Ankole calf, made her debut on Kilimanjaro Safaris on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026.
The weather didn't cooperate, but the calf did. Animals at Disney shared the news on social media with a caption promising "a few showers" and a 100 percent chance of cuteness, WDW News Today reported.
Raisin is dark brown, with small horns just starting to poke out of her head. She stuck pretty close to her mom on her first day out, MickeyBlog reported. Fair. First days are hard.
Here's our own math on the size gap. Ankole calves usually weigh about 30 to 50 pounds at birth, according to The Livestock Conservancy. Adult cows run 900 to 1,200 pounds. So Raisin has some growing to do.
Disney's advice for guests is simple: "keep an eye out for this little Ankole calf" on your next Safari.
Here's a look at the Ankole herd on Kilimanjaro Safaris:
When was Raisin the Ankole calf born?
Disney hasn't shared an exact date. WDW News Today first reported Raisin on Oct. 12, noting that Disney "did not share details of the new calf's birth." MickeyBlog says she was born last month. We noted the new arrival in an Oct. 16 story.
Disney also hasn't named her mom or explained the name. She's small and brown, so we have a theory.
Where can you see Raisin at Disney's Animal Kingdom?
On the savanna along Kilimanjaro Safaris, with the rest of the Ankole herd. Raisin spent her first few weeks backstage bonding with her mom before joining the group.
Safari animals roam where they want, so a sighting isn't guaranteed. Look for a dark brown calf next to a much larger cow with very big horns. You'll know the horns when you see them.
How many Ankole calves were born at Disney World in 2026?
It's been a big year for the herd.
March: Disney announced the first Ankole calf born at Walt Disney World in more than 20 years, a female born to a cow named Winnie. Dr. Mark Penning, Disney's vice president of animals, science and environment, said mom and calf were healthy and bonding behind the scenes.
June: Cinnamon, a spring-born calf, made her Kilimanjaro Safaris debut on June 23.
November: Raisin, the second Ankole calf of the year by WDW News Today's count, joins the savanna.
Raisin isn't the only new baby at the park, either. Quartz, a rare albino wallaby joey, showed up at Jumping Junction a few weeks ago.
What are Ankole cattle?
Ankole cattle come from East Africa. They belong to a group of African cattle called Sanga. The breed developed more than 2,000 years ago, The Livestock Conservancy says.
In Uganda, they're called Ankole, after the Nkole people. In Rwanda and Burundi, they're called Watusi, after the Tutsi people. In the United States, you'll often see the name Ankole-Watusi.
How big do Ankole cattle horns get?
Huge. Ankole cattle have the largest and widest horns of any cattle, reaching up to 8 feet from tip to tip, WDW News Today noted.
Those horns aren't only for show. Blood flows through them and cools off before heading back into the body, which helps the animals shed extra heat, The Livestock Conservancy explains. That's a handy trick on a sunny savanna in Africa, or in Florida.
Here are a few more quick facts:
Weight: Cows weigh 900 to 1,200 pounds, and bulls weigh 1,000 to 1,600 pounds.
Color: Dark red is most common, but dun and black show up, too, sometimes with spots or speckles.
In America: U.S. zoos and breeders brought them over from Europe in the 1920s and 1930s.
Status: The Livestock Conservancy lists the breed as "recovering."
Raisin's horns should keep growing over the next few months. Cinnamon's were expected to start showing a few months after she was born, too. Check back on your next Safari and compare.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
WDW News Today (Nov. 3, 2026), Raisin's debut, the Animals at Disney caption and her look
Laughing Place (Nov. 3, 2026), her sex, the rainy morning debut and the Animals at Disney Instagram photos
MickeyBlog (Nov. 3, 2026), her October birth and staying close to mom
WDW News Today (Oct. 12, 2026), the first report of Raisin and her time backstage
WDW News Today (March 10, 2026), the first Ankole calf in 20 years, Dr. Mark Penning's comments and horn size
WDW News Today (June 23, 2026), Cinnamon's Safari debut
The Livestock Conservancy (undated), Ankole-Watusi origin, names, weights, colors, horn cooling and status
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