dr mark penning

Vice President, Animals, Science and Environment, Disney Parks

Dr. Mark Penning

Latest Stories

Gino the Gorilla at Disney's Animal Kingdom
SEPTEMBER 24 2025

World Gorilla Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Celebrating Gino’s Legacy

World Elephant Day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Elephant Foot Radiographs
AUGUST 12 2025

Elephant Foot X-Rays: How Disney Vets Keep Giants on the Move

MAY 12 2025

Baby Backpacks on Butterflies at the EPCOT International Flower and Garden Festival 

Baby Animals at Animal Kingdom Shine for Mother's Day
MAY 8 2025

Baby Animals at Animal Kingdom Shine for Mother’s Day

Bakso the Baby Tiger, Disney's Animal Kingdom
JANUARY 29 2025

Baby Bakso Updates

Lions at Disney's Animal Kingdom
NOVEMBER 11 2024

Disney’s Iconic Lions: A Legacy Worth Celebrating 

New Zebra Foals at Walt Disney World, Summer 2024
JULY 25 2024

Summer of (Zebra) Stripes Arrives at Walt Disney World

5 Types of Wildlife You'll See at Disney Cruise Line's Lookout Cay
APRIL 22 2024

5 Types of Wildlife You’ll See at Disney Cruise Line’s Lookout Cay

Wild Stats About Disney Conservation & Animal Care 
APRIL 22 2024

Wild Stats About Disney Conservation & Animal Care  

Surprising Way Recycled Glass Helps Disney Plants Grow, Glass Magic
APRIL 18 2024

Surprising Way Recycled Glass Helps Disney Plants Grow 

Cutting-Edge Tech Reveals Secrets of Disney’s Birds 
APRIL 17 2024

Cutting-Edge Tech Reveals Secrets of Disney’s Birds 

Select 5 Remarkable Women Impacting Disney Animals Who’ll Inspire You 5 Remarkable Women Impacting Disney Animals Who’ll Inspire You blog header
MARCH 8 2024

5 Remarkable Women Impacting Disney Animals Who’ll Inspire You

See the Cutest Baby Animals of the Year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom blog photo
SEPTEMBER 20 2023

See the Cutest Baby Animals of the Year at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

baby mandrill at Animal Kingdom born in 2023
AUGUST 3 2023

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes Adorable, Pint-Sized Baby Mandrill Monkey

16th Annual Tour de Turtles Kicks Off at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort blog header
JULY 31 2023

16th Annual Tour de Turtles Kicks Off at Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Rare Twin Cotton-Top Tamarin Baby Monkeys Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom blog header
JUNE 20 2023

Rare Twin Cotton-Top Tamarin Baby Monkeys Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Celebrates 10 Years with Wilderness Explorers Program blog header
JUNE 9 2023

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Celebrates 10 Years with Wilderness Explorers Program

Disneyland Paris Will Soon House Largest Solar Canopy Plant in All of Europe blog header
APRIL 11 2023

Disneyland Paris Will Soon House Largest Solar Canopy Plant in All of Europe

How to Celebrate Earth Month 2023 with Disney blog header
MARCH 31 2023

How to Celebrate Earth Month 2023 with Disney

Disney’s Commitment to Conservation Expands with $500,000 Donation to Florida Organizations blog header
JANUARY 30 2023

Disney’s Commitment to Conservation Expands with $500,000 Donation to Florida Organizations

JANUARY 20 2023

You Won’t Believe What Happens to Some Glass Bottles at Walt Disney World Resort

‘Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’ Returns
DECEMBER 1 2022

‘Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom’ Returns Jan. 1

2022-WDW-Disney-Gorillas-Really-Brush-Their-Teeth
SEPTEMBER 23 2022

Do Disney Gorillas Really Brush Their Teeth?

2022-DX-15th-Annual-Tour-de-Turtles-Underway-from-Disneys-Vero-Beach-Resort
AUGUST 3 2022

15th Annual Tour de Turtles Underway from Disney’s Vero Beach Resort

Sumatran tiger and her cub laying in the grass
DECEMBER 13 2017

Wildlife Wednesday: Critically Endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs Arrive at Maharajah Jungle Trek

Pair of sumatran tiger cubs
AUGUST 23 2017

Wildlife Wednesday: Disney’s Animal Kingdom Celebrates Birth of Critically Endangered Sumatran Tiger Cubs