First look: Rare baby Sumatran tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Walt Disney World is sharing its first peek at Bakso, a baby Sumatran tiger born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park recently.
“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,” Dr. Natalie Mylniczenko, one of Disney’s veterinarians, said in a post on the official Disney Parks Blog. “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.”
There are fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers worldwide in the wild and in managed care, Disney says.
Bakso, a male, is the offspring of second-time mom Sohni and dad Conrad, who both live at Animal Kingdom. His birth was meticulously planned in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. They used hormone experts, frequent blood tests, weekly ultrasounds and other techniques to help bring about a successful birth.
Sohni’s pregnancy was announced last month via the Instagram account of Dr. Mark Penning, vice president for Disney’s Animals, Science & Environment.
Disney expects Bakso and Sohni to be ready to join the Maharajah Jungle Trek in the Asia section of Animal Kingdom — and be spotted by theme park guests — early next year.