Last month, Sohni, a Sumatran tiger in our care at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, gave birth to a pair of cubs, and today, I am thrilled to give you an update on their progress.
Our dedicated team of animal care experts has announced that we have a male and female cub – both weighing about 12 pounds and growing fast. Their eyes have opened since you’ve last seen them, and they are also beginning to learn how to walk on their own. The new family is continuing to bond well, as Sohni has been a great mom, feeding and grooming the cubs throughout the day.
The tigers were bred through the Species Survival Plan, which is overseen by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and ensures responsible breeding and diverse populations of threatened and endangered species. Sumatran tigers are critically endangered, with fewer than 500 existing in the wild due to significant threats like habitat loss, poaching, and the illegal wildlife trade.
You can help support Disney’s efforts to reverse the decline of tigers and other animals by taking part in Connect to Protect, a mobile adventure in which guests participate in conservation “missions” with a digital scientist while exploring Pandora – The World of Avatar and helping protect the habitats of at-risk animals here on Earth. Guests have used their adventures and their votes to unlock the first of ten $100,000 contributions from Disney Parks. This first donation is helping protect habitats for elephants in Kenya, but guests can still choose to support gorillas, migratory birds, butterflies and other species.
The tiger cubs will remain backstage for the next few months before guests will be able to see them on Maharajah Jungle Trek, and we look forward to sharing more updates soon.
