Meet Bakso: Disney's Animal Kingdom Welcomes Rare Sumatran Tiger Cub

Oct 17, 2024 in "Maharajah Jungle Trek"

Posted: Thursday October 17, 2024 9:55am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney's Animal Kingdom has welcomed a rare Sumatran tiger cub, marking the first birth of its kind at the park in seven years.

The cub, named Bakso, was born under the care of the park's animal care team, adding hope for the future of a critically endangered species. With fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers remaining in the wild and in managed care, the arrival of Bakso holds significance not only for conservation efforts but also for the species' survival.

Watch the video below to see Basko and Sohni

Bakso's mother, Sohni, was closely monitored throughout her pregnancy by a team of veterinarians and animal care experts led by Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko. Advanced technology, including frequent ultrasounds and blood tests, played a crucial role in tracking Sohni's and her cub's health. The level of care extended to Sohni's participation in her own care, thanks to her successful training by the animal care team.

Dr. Mylniczenko emphasized the importance of this birth, especially as wild tigers face ongoing threats to their survival. "Tigers are in steep decline in the wild, so it is very special to welcome a new baby here at Disney," she noted. The birth of Bakso reflects a broader effort to strengthen the population of Sumatran tigers through Disney's collaborations with organizations like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Species Survival Plan (SSP). These programs aim to protect endangered species in both managed care and the wild.

Bakso will remain under his mother's care until he's around 18-24 months old, at which point guests will be able to see him and Sohni on the Maharajah Jungle Trek, likely starting in early 2025. This marks another milestone in Disney's ongoing efforts to support animal conservation, a mission that extends beyond the park.

Since 1995, the Disney Conservation Fund has provided support to numerous organizations working to protect tigers and their habitats. Most recently, a grant was awarded to the Wildlife Conservation Society to aid in safeguarding tigers in the wild.

Discuss on the Forums

Get Walt Disney World News Delivered to Your Inbox

    View all comments →

    JohnD13 days ago

    Wait. People actually want to do the animal walk throughs? 🐯🐅 If you listen to park commandos, there are not enough attractions in AK, making it the worst of the four parks. Don't shoot the messenger. I'm just repeating a common "complaint."

    Agent H25 days ago

    Really that’s interesting I did not know that

    Captain Barbossa25 days ago

    Not sure where the surprise by the amount of attention is coming from. When the twins were born in 2017, crowds were huge. Then again, that was the 1st tiger birth ever at AK, but still. This was just the 2nd and it took 7 years for it to happen. The amount of attention and large crowds is expected and very much warranted.

    DCBaker25 days ago

    Disney has shared video of baby Bakso making his on-stage debut:

    Agent H25 days ago

    I am very pleasantly surprised by the attention this has gotten I was thinking yesterday about how he will come out and no one will care meanwhile I’ve been reading about him in the parks blog for months I did not have time to watch the videos sadly

    Sirwalterraleigh25 days ago

    No I hear that… Its shocking it took 200 years for enough people to say “oh crap…we’ve almost killed them all…let’s get some in zoos” Abusive animals…we are

    Alice a25 days ago

    For me, at least, it depresses me that so many of these types of animals are endangered/threatened and can’t live freely in the wild in their natural habitats because of human action. That’s sad. Petting zoos, on the other hand, are fine 😉

    Sirwalterraleigh26 days ago

    Cute little stinker… I will never understand those that can’t appreciate a zoo…not only from the research side…but animals have an innocence that should make all humans jealous This combined with the panda coverage in DC makes it a good week

    DCBakerNov 12, 2024

    Disney has a new weekly YouTube series focusing on a behind-the-scenes look at Bakso and Sohni as they gets ready for his big debut on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Episode one premieres in 5 minutes:

    CompedOct 20, 2024

    Now I want a plushie...