NEWS: Adorable Baby Tiger Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom!
One of the best parts about Disney World is getting to see all of the animals at places like Animal Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. There are so many exciting and unique species to check out!
Kilimanjaro Safaris
Disney also does a lot of conservation work when it comes to animals, including participating in animal breeding programs. A few weeks ago, we told you the big news about Sohni the tiger’s pregnancy at Animal Kingdom. And now, her cub has arrived!
NEW Baby Tiger at Animal Kingdom
Introducing baby Bakso! This little boy was born to mom Sohni a little less than three weeks ago and he is ADORABLE. Seriously, I’m tearing up — he’s just so little and perfect!
Photo: Disney
Disney shared that Bakso and Sohni are both happy and healthy and we know that thanks to some past frequent blood tests and weekly ultrasounds. The skilled veterinarians and keepers at Disney monitored Sohni’s behavior and even trained her to voluntarily participate in her own care!
Bakso will need his mom Sohni’s care until he’s about 18-24 months old, so we will get to see him grow up for a while when they both join Maharajah Jungle Trek in the park in a few months. For now, they’re hanging out behind the scenes!
View this post on Instagram
This baby tiger represents a huge contribution to a declining tiger population — there are less than 600 Sumatran tigers left in the wild and managed care. Bakso is a beacon of hope for the future of this critically endangered species!
“Tigers are in steep decline in the wild, so it is very special to welcome a new baby here at Disney, the first in seven years. Tiger births are rare in managed care and take a lot of planning and coordinating by our animal care team and the Species Survival Plan,” said Dr. Natalie, one of the veterinarians and many animal care professionals who monitored Sohni throughout her three-month pregnancy.
Photo: Disney
These tigers are an “umbrella species” which means that conservation efforts for these tigers will extend to other species within their habitat, providing cover to other key organisms and living things across the ecosystem. So, by protecting these tigers and their habitats, the places they belong are also protected, which is vital to a lot of people around the world.
Photo: Disney
Disney shared that they have a long history of working with renowned experts like the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) and the Species Survival Plan (SSP) to help endangered and threatened species populations in managed care.
The Disney Conservation Fund has also provided support to 15 organizations working with communities to protect tigers and their habitats since 1995. This past April, Disney celebrated their documentary Tiger by awarding a grant to Wildlife Conservation Society in support of their initiatives safeguarding the world’s most endangered tigers.
Photo: Disney
We can’t wait to see Bakso out and about in Animal Kingdom soon! Stay tuned for more Disney World news and updates.
