Lion, Tiger And Bear Became An Unlikely Family

[Jazzy]

Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan the tiger (all three known as BLT) were brought together as 2-month-old cubs and have grown up as a family.

The trio was originally owned by a drug dealer who didn't properly care for them, leading to neglect, poor health and severe injuries.

In 2001, Noah's Ark Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit that cares for animals in need, came to the rescue, and took them to Locust Grove, Georgia, where they were treated for injuries.

"We could have separated them," Diane Smith, assistant director of the Noah's Ark Zoo told the Telegraph. "But since they came as a kind of family, the zoo decided to keep them together."

Baloo required greater care than his two friends -- his former owner had put a harness on him and didn't adjust it as he grew, leading to a deformity, Imgur reports.

After arriving in Georgia, Baloo had the harness surgically removed.

Given that the trio had found comfort in each other during their years of mistreatment, The Sanctuary's staff realized that they couldn't be separated and fenced them in together.

More pictures

What a beautiful and heartwarming story.

Your thoughts?

 

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[Jazzy]

Fantastic story. The photographs wonderfully show the love these animals have for each other. May they have many more years together.