Disney's Animal Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, on April 22, 1998, as the resort's fourth park and the world's largest theme park at its debut. Conceived by Imagineer Joe Rohde, it combines zoological habitats with rides and shows while emphasizing conservation. Built on an extensively landscaped site shaped by research in Africa and Asia, it houses about 2,000 animals of around 200 species and centers on the Tree of Life at Discovery Island. Its themed lands, animal attractions, and behind-the-scenes care facilities distinguish it from Disney's other Florida parks, and later expansions and redevelopment have continued its original mission.