We Finally Met Bakso, Animal Kingdom’s Baby Sumatran Tiger

Written by Joshua Posted May 28th, 2025

There are many reasons why I like to start and end my Disney World vacations with Animal Kingdom. Joe Rohde’s masterpiece has impeccable theming, Disney’s most beautiful park icon, and Corra. And rhinos, floating mountains, and puppets (during the holidays). The rides and shows aren’t bad, either. No matter how many times I visit, I discover something new and amazing. On our last trip, that was Bakso, a baby Sumatran tiger on the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

I had known about Bakso for months. The cub was born to Sohni and Conrad last September. His birth was a big deal, seeing as only 600 Sumatran tigers remain in the world. Disney seemed to know they had a hit on their hands. They regularly shared stories about the tiger cub on their official blog. Even better, they broadcast from his backstage home every Tuesday. The PR worked. The Maharajah Jungle Trek was packed for Bakso’s debut.

While I had to watch that debut from afar, I finally met Animal Kingdom’s newest baby tiger last month. And he lived up to the hype. I watched for 45 minutes as he climbed trees, stalked his momma, and lazed around. It was quite a change from how he behaved in his first days on stage. Back then, the tiny cub with giant paws was unsure of his new home. He never strayed far from Sohni or the backstage door. I was happy to witness a much more confident cat in late April.

Conrad on the Maharajah Jungle Trek — Conrad, Animal Kingdom’s adult male Sumatran tiger

Bakso will remain with Sohni a while longer. Sumatran tiger mom care for their young for up to 24 months. And Conrad isn’t far away. Bakso’s father lives a solitary life in a different habitat on the walking trail.

So the next time you visit Animal Kingdom, check out the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Yes, Flight of Passage is cool. But so are flying foxes, water buffalo, and a baby tiger.