The Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort is so much more than just a theme park. As a celebration of not only human culture globally, but also of the animals that we coexist with aboard our Spaceship Earth, the Animal Kingdom is home to over five thousand animals and around three hundred individual species over five hundred and eighty acres, making it an impressive feat as both a theme park and a zoo.
And while the early 2000s executives may have been desperate to convince prospective guests that the Animal Kingdom was ‘nahtazu,’ a major pillar of the park remains, to this day, conservation and awareness. While the Animal Kingdom may be so much more than just a zoo, it still employs passionate veternarians, nutritionists, animal keepers, educators, and scientists to help provide the absolute best care possible for its wide array of creatures and critters.
Disney, being accredited members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), has for many years contributed to the care and re-population of critically endangered species; over the last few years, Disney has welcomed baby tamarins, okapi, duikers, and elephants into their Animal Kingdom family, via the AZA’s Species Survival Plans, which aims to “manage a genetically diverse, demographically varied, and biologicaly sound population” via its highly trained experts who work closely with facilities like the Animal Kingdom, to ensure that the best care is being given to critically endangered species like the Sumatran Tigers.
With less than 600 Sumatran Tigers left in the wild, welcoming baby Bakso has been an incredible experience for the cast members, veterinarians, and environmentalists who work tirelessly to ensure that these endangered animals are being managed in a responsible and productive way that benefits the species – and with the successful birth of baby Bakso, Disney takes pride in its newest family member, calling him a “beacon of hope for the future of this endangered species, and to all of those who care for these tigers”.
After months of closely monitoring the mother, Sohni, with various ultrasounds and countless bloodwork tests to keep track of vitals and hormones in Animal Kingdom’s very own onsite endocrinology lab, Bakso has been welcomed into the world with all the joy and adoration he deserves. He will remain in his mother’s care until he is about 18-24 months old, after which guests will be able to visit both of them on the Maharaja Jungle Trek in early 2025.
More more precious footage of baby Bakso, check out the video below, courtesy of Disney’s Animal Kingdom:
Disney’s Animal Kingdom considers this birth a ROARING success, and we look forward to seeing baby Bakso grow up happy and healthy alongside mom on the Maharaja Jungle Trek next year.
To learn more about Disney’s conservation efforts at the Animal Kingdom and the incredible journey that brought this little bundle of joy into the world, you can check out their blog [here.] But for now, Theme Park Shark is happy to bring you guys your daily dose of cute for the day, and wish this happy family nothing but the best as baby Bakso continues, like many before him and many to come, to grow up in the happiest place on Earth!
