Maharajah Jungle Trek – Asia – Animal Kingdom Part II

Feature Article

This article appeared in the April 26, 2000, Issue #27 of ALL EARS® (ISSN: 1533-0753)

Maharajah Jungle Trek – Asia – Animal Kingdom
Part II

The Bat Community, home of the Rodrigues Fruit Bat Pteropus rodricensis and the Malayan Flying Fox Pteropus vampyrus is next. (There is a bypass if you wish to skip this section.) You can see the bats hanging from the vines and trees in the enclosure. They also will sometimes wrap themselves in their paper-thin wings to preserve body hear or fan themselves to stay cool.

The Rodrigues are sometimes referred to as "golden bats" because of their mantle of golden fur that covers portions of their head, neck, and shoulders and contrasts sharply with the dark brown fur over the remainder of their body. Rodigues is a small volcanic island in the Southwestern Indian Ocean.

The Malayan Flying Fox is among the largest of the bats and has a wing span of 6 feet. This largely nocturnal mammal feeds on fruit and nectar.

The most beautiful section of the Maharajah Jungle Trek is next which will bring you into the heart of India. It is called Tiger Forest. Paintings adorn the old crumbling walls. There are several viewing areas for the Asian Tigers Panthera tigris .

There are 6 Female Tigers in the Maharajah collection. Be sure to visit the Tigers in the early morning hours. They can sometimes be found stretching on a tree trunk or playing in the water. Some of the viewing areas are through glass. However, near the end of the tiger section is a bridge upon which you can get a good view of the Tigers and their Pond.

Looking left while on the bridge, you will see a field with Elds Deer and Blackbuck. The Elds Deer Cervus eldi come from Burma and eastern India. The Elds Deer are an endangered species.

The Blackbuck Antilope cervicapra are one of the fastest antelopes in the world. They can travel up to 50 miles per hour. The Blackbucks have the cork screw twisted horns. Co-existing with the Elds Deer and Blackbuck are several species of birds.

The Sarus Crane will get your attention quickly as they are the world's tallest flying bird. Males can grow to six feet tall with a ten feet wing span. Also in this area are barheaded geese and white wing wood duck, both native to South East Asia.

A beautiful peaceful bird sanctuary completes the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Paintings on the walls and running water from the fountains provide a quiet serene atmosphere. In the pond, you might find Masked Plovers and Indian Pygmy Geese. The male Argus Pheasant can often be found strutting along the ground. Up in the trees you might find the King Parrots. There is generally a guide in this area, often with binoculars, who can answer questions and point out the birds.

As you exit the bird area, the sounds in the distance of the Kali River Rapids ride remind you where you are and what lies ahead during your day at Disney's Animal Kingdom.

I hope you enjoyed your visit to Disney's Animal Kingdom's Maharajah Jungle Trek

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Editor's Note: This story/information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all current rates, information and other details before planning your trip.