Disney’s Animal Kingdom Welcomes New Tiger Cub Bakso

Sumatrian tiger with new cub at Disney's Animal Kingdom

There’s a whole new reason to celebrate at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Orlando wildlife-inspired theme park has welcomed a new tiger cub named Bakso into the family. His debut marks the first Sumatrian tiger cub to be born at the park in seven years. 

A team of veterinarians and animal care workers monitored the mother Sohni throughout her 4-month pregnancy and assisted during the cub’s birth to make sure Bakso’s arrival was safe. 

According to a news release from Disney, Sumatrian tigers are a declining species with just 600 of them left in the wild and in managed care. “Tigers are in steep decline in the wild, so it is very special to welcome a new baby here at Disney,” said Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko, one of the veterinarians who helped with Bakso’s birth.

Baby tigers rely on their mother’s care for the first 18-24 months of their lives. That’s good news for Animal Kingdom visitors, who will be able to catch a glimpse of Bakso and Sohni along the park’s Maharajah Jungle Trek starting in early 2025. 

For now, 3-week old Basko will be bonding with his mom backstage at Animal Kingdom, learning the ropes and growing bigger every day. 

We can’t wait to see more of this tiger cub getting up to his wild antics in the near future. 

About Deidre Grieves 30 Articles
Deidre Grieves is a Philadelphia-based writer, editor, and the founder of DisneyTourist.com. She spent her childhood taking family trips to Disney World and is now sharing those experiences and creating new memories with her two young sons.