Disney's Costuming Team Spent 2 Years Designing a Custom Eye Mask for a White Rhino-and the Whole Story Is a Tearjerker
Disney is known as the happiest place on earth, and not just for humans. While it's undoubtedly a magical experience for guests, the animals at Disney's Animal Kingdom are treated with the same level of respect and love from the animal care team. That dedication recently made headlines with the announcement of a successful surgery on a 27-year-old white rhino with vision problems.
While Kendi is a large and commanding animal, vision plays an important role in how she navigates her daily life. When the team at Disney's Animal Kingdom noticed slight cloudiness in her right eye, veterinarians knew it was worth investigating. Through careful observation and regular wellness checks, they determined that the white rhino was suffering from cataracts, a condition that could lead to blindness if left untreated.
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With a diagnosis in hand, the team embarked on an incredible journey to restore Kendi's health, one that even called in some help from a rather unexpected department: Disney's costuming team.
Kendi's Journey Back to Health
After diagnosing Kendi with cataracts, the team began planning the surgical removal, a process that required extensive collaboration across multiple teams.
Dr. Betsy Stringer, a veterinarian with Disney's Animals, Science and Environment, reflected on the experience to the Disney Parks Blog: "I've planned for this one procedure more than any other in my life. It's been one of the most rewarding moments of my career. The level of innovation pushed us to think differently-and ultimately raised the bar for what's possible in veterinary care."
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The first step was training Kendi to accept eye drops voluntarily. With patience and trust built over time, she became comfortable receiving them up to four times a day. Once Kendi had learned to trust her care team, she was brought to the rhino barn for her procedure.
The surgery was a success and marked a significant milestone in her recovery. To support her healing, Kendi was fitted with a custom protective eye mask-a piece two years in the making, designed by Disney's costuming team specifically for her. The mask shielded her healing eye while still allowing the team to administer her post-op eye drops without interruption.
Kendi is now fully healed and back on view at Animal Kingdom. Her story is a testament to the extraordinary level of collaboration, innovation, and care that goes into looking after these animals, and a reminder that at Disney, the magic extends well beyond the guests.
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This story was originally published June 14, 2026 at 2:20 PM.