Living together in hamony for 15 years: an American black bear, an African lion, and a Bengal tiger. Lions, tigers, and bears.
Considering that they would be mortal enemies if they ever were to meet in the wild, it is stunning to see their unique and genuine friendship in these intimate pictures. Rescued 3-years years ago in Atlanta, Georgia, the little family were only cubs at the time at barely two months old.
Known collectively as the BLT, Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan the tiger have forged an unusually strong bond and are the only bear-lion and tiger in the world who live in the same enclosure.
Prior to their rescued and placement at Noah’s Ark in 2001, BLT lived in the basᴇᴍᴇɴt of a house in Atlanta in a ᴅᴇᴠᴀsᴛᴀᴛing tale of severe animal ᴀʙᴜsᴇ. The basement was in ᴛᴇʀʀɪʙʟᴇ condition and so were the wild animals. Baloo’s sᴜʀɢᴇʀʏ upon rescue was he only time this trio has been sᴇᴘᴀʀᴀᴛᴇd.
Noah’s Ark cares for animals in the hopes of rehabilitation and release, but not all the animals that come to them can be released.
BLT is a rare trio indeed, and they seem to get along like brothers rather than significantly different animal species. Explaining that the three ‘brothers’ have always seemed to share a unique bond, Charles said: ‘Noah’s Ark is their home and they could not possibly be separated from each other.
They will spend the rest of their lives being cared for at Noah’s Ark, but they don’t seem to mind. They are ᴛʀᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ very well with lots of love and respect by this incredible organization.
