Ring-tailed lemurs return to Discovery Island as Animal Kingdom's lemur habitat reopens

By entgrove · October 16, 2026

The ring-tailed lemur habitat on Discovery Island at Disney's Animal Kingdom has reopened after construction walls surrounded it since at least July while crews finished new rockwork. The viewing area sits outside the still-closed Discovery Island Trail, and new signs explain lemur behavior and Madagascar's conservation story.

Ring-tailed lemurs are back on view at Disney's Animal Kingdom. Their Discovery Island habitat has reopened after construction walls surrounded it since at least July while crews finished new rockwork, with the Tree of Life rising behind it.

Animal Kingdom's lemur habitat reopens with new rockwork

Crews finished the rockwork before the walls came down, and the habitat is open for viewing again.

• Carved rockwork. Layered rockwork rises along the back and sides of the habitat, with sculpted logs worked into the rock.
• Pond and island. The rockwork wraps around a shallow pond and a grassy island, with ropes stretched across the island.
• Two viewing heights. Glass panels let smaller guests look in, while adults get an unobstructed view.
• Tree of Life. The Tree of Life appears in the background from several viewing spots.
• Trail still closed. The Discovery Island Trail near the Tree of Life remains closed, but the lemur viewing area sits fully outside it.

Lemurs on the move in the reopened habitat

Several lemurs were out and active right after the reopening, and feeding stumps keep them in plain view.

• Leaps and climbs. Lemurs leaped off tree trunks, walked along branches and clung to a vertical limb.
• Feeding stumps. Stumps give the lemurs a place to eat in plain view, so guests can see their orange eyes and black-and-white ringed tails.
• Resting spots. Others rested on a driftwood log or peeked out from a leafy shrub.

What the lemur signs say about Madagascar

Two signs at the habitat explain lemur behavior and the threats lemurs face in the wild.

• Stink battles. Ring-tailed lemurs often start "stink battles" by waving scented tails at each other.
• Morning sunbathing. Groups gather in open areas to sunbathe after cold forest nights.
• Over 100 species. Madagascar, a biodiversity hotspot, is home to more than 100 lemur species.
• Endangered mammals. Lemurs are among the most endangered mammals in the world.
• Ways to help. Both signs suggest joining a forest cleanup or supporting conservation organizations.

Our take. Stop at the habitat on your way across Discovery Island: the feeding stumps sit in plain view, and the low glass panels give small children a view of their own.