Newborn Sumatran tiger cub Bakso, male, was born about three weeks ago to mom Sohni and dad Conrad. He’s the pair’s second cub.
Bakso’s birth was planned in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums with the help of hormone experts, weekly ultrasounds and other methods to ensure a healthy birth.
“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, Disney veterinarian, said in a post on the 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.”
Bakso and his mom are currently spending some time bonding backstage, said Dr. Mark Penning, Disney’s Animals, Science and Environment vice president.
Only found on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Sumatran tigers are currently listed as “critically endangered,” and it’s estimated there’s around 400–600 left in the wild.
The mom and son duo will likely appear back at the Maharajah Jungle Trek in a “few months.”
This article was first published at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.
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This article appears in Oct 17-23, 2024.