They grow up so fast. It feels like we were just introduced to baby Bakso, but Disney’s Animal Kingdom’s not-so-little tiger cub is officially growing up.
Disney has announced that Bakso, the Sumatran tiger who was born at Animal Kingdom in September 2024, will leave the park later this fall. Now celebrating his second birthday, Bakso will move to another Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited zoo.
Guests still have some time to visit him along the Maharajah Jungle Trek before his move.
Bakso was born to mom Sohni and dad Conrad and made his public debut at Animal Kingdom in January 2025. Since then, guests have watched him grow from a tiny cub into a much larger, very playful young tiger. Disney has regularly shared updates on Bakso over the past two years, including his adventures with enrichment toys, pools, treats, and his first birthday celebration.
And if you’ve ever wondered about his name, Bakso comes from the Indonesian word for “meatball.” That was certainly easier to picture when he was smaller!
His upcoming move comes as part of a recommendation from the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan, which coordinates efforts among accredited zoos to support endangered and threatened species in managed care. The move also lines up with a natural stage in Bakso’s life. Tigers become increasingly independent as they mature and eventually establish territories of their own.
There are fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers remain in the wild, making the species critically endangered. Bakso could eventually father cubs of his own and contribute to the population of Sumatran tigers in managed care.
Disney’s work with tigers extends beyond Animal Kingdom. The Disney Conservation Fund has provided more than $4.5 million to 15 organizations working alongside communities to protect tigers and their forest habitats since 1995.
Disney hasn’t announced Bakso’s new zoo or an exact departure date yet, so there’s still an opportunity to see him at Maharajah Jungle Trek this fall.
It’ll certainly be strange visiting the trail without “baby” Bakso around, even if he’s looking a whole lot less like a baby these days. His departure closes a pretty special two-year chapter at Animal Kingdom, while opening the door for an important next one for this endangered species.
