Bakso, the beloved Sumatran tiger at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, is getting into the Halloween spirit with some festive pumpkin enrichment.
Bakso Plays with Pumpkin at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
In an Instagram Reel shared by @thedakguy, Bakso was caught on film practicing his predatory prowess on a poor, plump pumpkin plopped into his habitat by his keepers at Maharajah Jungle Trek.
According to the original post by @thedakguy:
Bakso loved this enrichment so much it was scary. He found the pumpkin that his keepers hid in the tiger yard. Then he grabbed it in his jaws (and) dropped it into the pool. Then it was time for it to meet its demise.
The Reel picks up after Bakso found his seasonal surprise and carried it to the nearby pool. After positioning the pumpkin a short distance away, the playful tiger crouched into attack position before lunging through the shallow pool to his new toy, tearing it apart in a gruesome Halloween sendoff.
Born at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in September 2024, Bakso celebrated his second birthday just last month. The young tiger has become a guest favorite since making his public debut in January 2025.
Disney recently announced that Bakso will leave Animal Kingdom this fall for another Association of Zoos & Aquariums-accredited zoo as part of conservation efforts for the critically endangered Sumatran tiger.
Of course, Bakso isn’t the only animal getting into the Halloween spirit! Good Morning America and Animals at Disney also shared a series of adorable photos showing more Walt Disney World residents posing with specially decorated pumpkins.
These festive pumpkins are more than just adorable photo opportunities. Seasonal enrichment encourages the animals to explore their surroundings, investigate unfamiliar objects, and engage in natural behaviors, all while bringing a little Halloween magic to their habitats.
An African elephant at Disney’s Animal Kingdom gets a tiny treat, using its trunk to investigate a miniature jack-o’-lantern perched atop a rock. The pumpkin features a carving of a triceratops—a still-sore subject for us fans of the park’s defunct DINOSAUR attraction.
A cotton-top tamarin also joins the festivities, posing alongside a white pumpkin carved with the visage of the Pumpkin King himself, Jack Skellington. Another photo shows a horse from Tri-Circle-D Ranch investigating a particularly mouselike gourd arrangement. Over on the savanna, Aella the giraffe has received a pumpkin of her own, carved with the word “BOO” and stuffed with tasty leafy greens. Finally, Ray the kangaroo at Jumping Junction poses with two pumpkins, wishing everyone a “Hoppy Halloween!”
Disney also recently shared a video of other animals across Walt Disney World enjoying jack-o’-lantern enrichment, including zebras, anteaters, and even aquatic residents of The Seas with Nemo & Friends at EPCOT.
Have you had a chance to see Bakso at Disney’s Animal Kingdom? Share your favorite memories with us on social media!
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The post Bakso the Tiger and More Walt Disney World Animals Celebrate Halloween with Some Pumpkin Playtime appeared first on WDW News Today.
