Bakso, the Sumatran tiger who drew hour-long lines when he debuted as a cub at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is leaving Walt Disney World this fall. Disney announced the news as Bakso turned 2, sharing that he will move to another Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited facility as part of the Species Survival Plan, where he may one day father cubs of his own. Disney hasn’t announced his last day, so if you want to say goodbye, plan a visit to Maharajah Jungle Trek soon.
For a lot of Disney World fans, this one stings. When Bakso made his public debut on January 29, 2025, the crowds were unlike anything the trail had seen. Guests lined up before the park even opened, and waits stretched past an hour, with the line wrapping back toward Yak and Yeti and down the walkway by Kali River Rapids. Disney reversed the entire Maharajah Jungle Trek route and set up a separate queue just for him. For a few days in early 2025, the longest wait at Animal Kingdom wasn’t in Pandora. It was for a tiger cub.
That excitement never really went away. Disney ended the separate queue on February 19, 2025, but fans kept coming back to watch him grow, and Disney news sites kept reporting on him for months. His first birthday party in September 2025, with a cake made of goat’s milk, blood and ice and a banner guests could sign, was covered across the Disney fan community, more than half a year after his debut. Few animals in Disney World history have held fans’ attention like that.
We’ve followed Bakso from the very beginning, starting with the announcement of his mom Sohni’s pregnancy and his birth in September 2024. He was the first Sumatran tiger born at Animal Kingdom in seven years, and his name comes from the Indonesian word for meatball. His dad is Conrad.
The move is about the bigger picture. Fewer than 600 Sumatran tigers are left in the wild, and the Species Survival Plan pairs tigers across accredited facilities to keep the population healthy. Dr. Scott Terrell, Vice President of Animals, Science and Environment for Disney Experiences, shared the news on the Disney Parks Blog, along with notes from the team who raised him. Keeper Sarah called working with Bakso “a dream,” and Behavioral Husbandry Manager Michelle said the best part of her job is “getting a front row seat to all of the small moments that shape Bakso’s personality.” For his second birthday, the team celebrated with ice treats and goat’s milk.
This is going to be a sad day for a lot of guests. Bakso was the rare animal people planned a whole park day around, and for many families he was the reason they walked Maharajah Jungle Trek for the first time. The good news is why he’s leaving. Helping save a critically endangered species is the best possible reason to say goodbye. If Bakso is part of your Disney memories, make time to see him this fall, and head there earlier in the day for the best chance to catch him out and active.
Disney has not shared where Bakso is going or his final day at Animal Kingdom, and we’ll update this story when it does. For everything else happening at the park, visit our Animal Kingdom guide.
