The votes are in! Introducing Nalani and Baldr

The votes are in! Introducing Nalani and Baldr

New Tiger Cubs named Nalani and Baldr after public voting.

After hundreds of votes, Nalani and Baldr reigned supreme! On April 4th, Discovery Kingdom held an exclusive reveal to announce and welcome the two young tiger cubs to their new home and the public. Nalani, a Hindi name meaning calm skies, is a great fit for the young cub with bright, beautiful eyes against her pale coat. Baldr, an old Norse name, meaning Son of Odin, is the perfect tribute to the great late Odin. For those who have been visiting Discovery Kingdom for years, you may remember the powerful and legendary tiger, Odin, who was a fixture of the park and gained international attention for his love of swimming and diving skills. The debut of Nalani and Baldr commemorates the milestone of welcoming tiger cubs to the park for the first time in 12 years. The pair of Bengal tiger cubs are joining a diverse group of animal ambassadors currently in the park’s care. These Animal ambassadors at Discovery Kingdom play an important role in educating guests about various species while fostering awareness and appreciation for the importance of conservation.

Currently, the Bengal Tiger remains classifies as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List. Though the Bengal tiger continues its fight against habitat fragmentation and human-wildlife conflict, through education and focused conservation efforts, tiger populations in the wild have seen a trend of stable and growing numbers across South Asia.

Those interested in learning more about big cat conservation with options to donate, may visit:

• Project Survival Cat Haven (https://cathaven.com/)
• Wildlife Conservation Network (https://wildnet.org/)

The Next Generation of Stripes

Nalani, the female, is a Snow White Bengal Tiger. This refers to her almost entirely white coat with faint stripes and stark blue eyes. Baldr, the male, is a Royal White Bengal Tiger. His white coat, distinct black colored stripes, and crystal blue eyes, make him easily distinguishable from each other.

White Bengal tigers are distinctive due to the color of their fur. The white fur is caused by a lack of pigment pheomelanin, which is found in Bengal tigers with orange fur. White tigers have been recorded in India since the 16th century CE! The park expects that their rare outer appearance will serve as a powerful visual inspiration to the importance of conservation of their species in the wild.

“We are thrilled to have both tiger cubs join us as the newest members of the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom family,” said Eric Calvo, Director of Animal Care. “Expert caregivers are providing them with around the clock care while they become accustomed to their new environment and we look forward to introducing them soon to our guests who will be able to watch them grow, play and interact with each other and their caregivers in the park while also learning about the importance of supporting endangered and threatened species populations.” Guests can catch a glimpse of these cubs at various times throughout park operating hours on the land animal side of the park between Sidewinder Safari and Cougar Rocks.