How do you attract one of the world’s most intelligent and elusive birds to study its movements and help preserve its natural environment in The Bahamas? That was the challenge facing Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment team at Disney Cruise Line’s all-new Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point. The solution: a 3D printer and skillful work with a paintbrush.
To ensure the tropical island retreat has minimal impact on the local Eleutheran ecosystem and animal habitats, Disney’s own wildlife experts are carrying out a variety of projects to promote the conservation of land crabs, birds, marine life and more.
Disney Prints a Great Lizard Cuckoo Model Bird
The great lizard cuckoo, only found in The Bahamas and Cuba, is a resident species at Disney Lookout Cay – and one of the island destination’s “ambassador species” that dots the Nature Trail to represent the biodiversity of The Bahamas. It is a particularly intelligent bird, so the Conservation Team had trouble catching and tagging the species using traditional techniques.
To overcome this obstacle, the team tapped into the expertise of Animals, Science and Environment’s own Science Team. Together with the technology experts across Disney, the team 3D printed a model of a great lizard cuckoo that was skillfully hand painted to match the bird’s dazzling and colorful markings.
The final model measured 17” from beak to tail and took more than 12 hours to print, plus several hours to paint by hand. Guests can see these models still on display at Rafiki’s Planet Watch at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
In addition to the great lizard cuckoo, the team 3D printed and painted models of a Bahamas mocking bird, Kirtland’s warbler and a merlin.
This is the first time the team has used this innovative approach to conservation work in The Bahamas, and the effort was a success! The realistic model, combined with playing the bird’s call, helped the Conservation Team successfully attract and tag a great lizard cuckoo at Disney Lookout Cay. The bird was outfitted with a small radio transmitter so the Conservation Team could track the bird’s movements as it comes and goes from the island destination.
Cast Members Make a Difference Through Disney Planet Possible
Through this project and others, the Conservation Team has gathered 35 million data points across all species of birds, which has paid off in many ways throughout the construction and operation of the destination.
This project has also provided an incredible opportunity for Disney cast members to be in the field and learn more about native wildlife in The Bahamas, while also sharing these findings with local organizations to benefit the greater Bahamian community.
This project is a great example of Disney Planet Possible – putting possibility into practice by doing our part to conserve natural resources, care for wildlife and their habitats, use and waste less, and create stories that inspire action.
Disney’s commitment to protecting the natural beauty of The Bahamas spans decades, dating back to Earth Day, April 22, 1995, through the Disney Conservation Fund. In fact, since its launch, the fund has provided more than 80 grants to support community conservation organizations in The Bahamas.
