Baby Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom (2025 Guide): Bakso Turns 1
- Practically Perfect Pixie Dust
- Jun 6
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 20
***Updated 9/20/25
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has recently welcomed a delightful array of baby animals, each contributing to the park’s ongoing commitment to wildlife conservation. From tiger cubs to giraffe calves, these new additions are not only adorable—they’re helping raise awareness about endangered species and Disney’s global conservation efforts.
🎉 Bakso’s First Birthday!
Our favorite tiger cub is officially a whole year old! 🐯 Bakso, born September 26, 2024, just celebrated his first birthday at Disney’s Animal Kingdom with a wild party on the Maharajah Jungle Trek. Keepers marked the milestone with special enrichment — think scents to explore, frozen treats, and playful surprises — all designed to bring out his natural tiger instincts.
Bakso has grown from a tiny, fluffy cub into a confident young tiger who’s keeping guests (and his mom Sohni!) on their toes with his curious, playful energy. He’s thriving, and every visit feels like watching him hit a brand-new milestone.
🐯 Meet Bakso the Baby Tiger
Bakso, the first Sumatran tiger cub born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in seven years, is now roaming the Maharajah Jungle Trek alongside his mother, Sohni. Born in September 2024, Bakso has been delighting guests with his playful antics and growing independence since January 2025.
💡 Best time to see him? Early morning! Tigers are most active before the midday heat.
During our February trip—when we tackled the 4 Parks in One Day Challenge (read about our wild antics here])—we couldn’t resist heading to the Jungle Trek to meet Bakso. He was hanging out with Sohni, and “adorable” doesn’t even begin to cover this sweet, fluffy baby tiger. 😻 The trail was packed, and we had to wait our turn at the viewing window—but watching him pounce, frolic, and try to ambush mama was so worth it.
By May, we were stunned at how much he’d grown. At 8 months old, he’s officially in his tiger “teen” phase—but still has that house-cat energy. We watched him gleefully toss around what looked like a frozen boneless chicken breast. It was giving major kitten vibes. 🐅
Bakso - May 2025
📸 How He's Doing Now
Over the past year, guests have seen him:
Grow from a nursing cub into a playful walker.
Engage in scent-tracking and climbing enrichment in carefully staged areas backstage.
Finally emerge from restricted viewing areas and begin exploring his public habitat.
The Wild Kingdom has been keeping updates active through regular “Tiger Tuesdays” and interactive guest programs like Wilderness Explorers — which allowed families to learn about endangered species and earn badges while spotting Bakso.
💬 What the Keepers Say
Caretakers emphasize that Bakso’s socialization and enrichment are crucial parts of his daily routine, and each phase of his early development — from lemongrass scent training to dry feeding — has been carefully tailored to foster independence and curiosity.
Insight from Disney zookeepers:
“From his very first check-up to his first meatball, Bakso symbolizes hope for the future of his species.” People.com
Bakso - September 2025
🌟 Bakso’s Journey
From his tiny first steps to his big first birthday, Bakso has captured the hearts of guests and cast members alike. Watching him grow has been a reminder of why Disney’s conservation efforts matter so much — every playful pounce and milestone is part of a bigger story of protecting endangered species. Whether you catch him prowling the Maharajah Jungle Trek or snoozing in the shade with Sohni, Bakso is a true must-see at Animal Kingdom.
🦒 Say Hello to Tucker the Baby Giraffe
Tucker, a Masai giraffe calf born on February 13, 2025, to mom Mara, is now exploring the savanna on Kilimanjaro Safaris. Even at just a few months old, he’s full of curiosity and energy—and absolutely steals the show.
We had just a partial morning at Animal Kingdom in May (we were off enjoying Enchanting Extras for Kim’s birthday), but Kilimanjaro Safaris was a must-do to spot Tucker. We neared the end of the savanna trail thinking we’d missed him—then suddenly saw him with his mom! Something startled him, and he gave the cutest little hop. 💛 And yes, we got the whole thing on video. He’s just adorbs.
🦒 Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Ride the safari in the morning when the animals (and especially baby giraffes) are most active.
📸 Capture the Moments
Don’t forget your camera or smartphone—these magical animal sightings are too special to miss! Both Bakso and Tucker are part of Disney’s efforts in animal care, endangered species awareness, and the Disney Conservation Fund.
Spotting them isn’t just adorable—it’s a reminder of the real impact of conservation programs at Disney parks.
💡 Pixie Dust Pro Tip: Early morning = best chance to see active animals, fewer crowds, and better lighting for photos!
🐾 More Baby Animal Magic at Animal Kingdom (and Beyond!)
Over the past few years, Disney’s Animal Kingdom has celebrated the births of baby zebras, okapi, gorillas, mandrills, and elephants—each one playing a role in Disney’s commitment to wildlife conservation and species protection. And recently, the baby boom has expanded even further!
Over at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, the addax family is growing too!
Juniper recently gave birth to a calf named Ginny, who is bonding with her mama backstage while she nurses and grows stronger.
Violet welcomed a calf named Henry, who is already exploring the Uzima Savanna at Jambo House.
These births are especially meaningful—addaxes are listed as critically endangered by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), making every birth a major win for the species and for Disney’s conservation work.
🐾 And the baby boom doesn’t stop there! You might also spot:
Three tiny Asian small-clawed otter pups—adorably named Butternut, Biscuit, and Potato—splashing around the Otter Grotto on Kilimanjaro Safari. Born in December 2024, they made their debut in April 2025. These cuties are the first otters born at Animal Kingdom since 2018, and they’re learning to swim and play with guidance from their parents, Kevin and Mae. 🦦
Photo Credit @Disney from the Disney Parks Blog
Every one of these arrivals is part of Disney’s Species Survival Plan (SSP) in partnership with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)—a pixie-dusted mix of adorable moments and real-world conservation work.
💚 Want more fuzzy faces and conservation facts? Check out the full Disney Parks Blog feature on baby animals at Animal Kingdom for even more magic—and a behind-the-scenes look at how these cuties are cared for.
From tiny paws to wobbly hooves, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is bursting with baby animal magic—and we can’t get enough of it. Whether you’re strolling jungle trails or hopping on Kilimanjaro Safaris, keep your eyes peeled for these pint-sized wonders. They’re not just adorable—they’re part of something bigger: Disney’s mission to protect wildlife and inspire the next generation of animal lovers. 🐾✨
💫 Want to add a little more wild wonder to your trip? Check out our Animal Kingdom Planning Guide for even more ways to make your next visit practically perfect.
Pixie Dust Hugs,
Bren, Lyn, and Kim
