Back in October of 2024, Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom had the honor of welcoming Baby Bakso. A newborn baby tiger born to mama Sohni, Bakso was the newest triumph in a concerted effort to help a critically endangered species flourish. With fewer than 600 Sumatran Tigers left, Bakso’s arrival at the Animal Kingdom was widely celebrated.
After spending some quality time with Mom under observation, Bakso and Sohni have both since been moved into the Maharajah Jungle Trek, where Bakso gets to grow up alongside mom and other Sumatran Tigers that live at the park, where guests from all over the world can go and visit them! But this time, Bakso and Sohni got a visit from some fellow Tigers instead!
While training in Florida, Colt Keith, Matt Vierling, Tyler Holton, Will Vest, and Zach McKinstry got the chance to take a break from the diamond, spend some time with their families, and visit Bakso at the Animal Kingdom. These incredibly talented athletes, who play for the Detroit Tigers, were excited to meet such an important little cub.
“I’ve been here before and I have seen the tigers, but not a cub. So that was really special,” said Detroit Tiger pitcher Tyler Holton. “Seeing the little guy — being a tiger, seeing a tiger, it definitely is an interesting perspective. Obviously, everyone has their nicknames, but to be here at Disney and see the real-life tiger is cool!”
Bakso, now six months old, was only recently introduced into the Maharajah Jungle Trek, and while he’s still under strict watch by Animal Kingdom’s trained wildlife specialists to ensure he grows up healthy and strong, Bakso has been able to pounce, play, and prowl around the lush habitat specially designed for these tigers to live happy, healthy, and fulfilling lives as a key part of conservation efforts.
Disney collaborates with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the Species Survival Plan to ensure that critically endangered species like the Sumatran tigers have the best support possible. These associations and programs foster ongoing conservation efforts to help strengthen the populations of critically endangered animals, and offers advanced scientific knowledge from wildlife experts that assist places like Walt Disney World in providing the best care possible for these animals.
This moment was extra special for Detroit Tigers pitcher, Will Vest, as he got to spend it with his wife and two children. “I think it’s kind of cool to have the kids out to see this. For my son, anytime that he sees a tiger — he’s always like, Daddy’s team! So he’s starting to kind of connect the dots there. It was cool to be up-close and see the baby cub walking around,” Will Vest explained.
You don’t have to be a Detroit Tiger to see baby Bakso, though! Now that he and mom have been moved to their new home in the Maharajah Jungle Trek, guests from all across the world can visit these majestic animals and celebrate the momentous work that Walt Disney World is doing for these tigers at the Animal Kingdom.
