Oh My! Unlikely Trio of Lion, Tiger, and Bear Share Unbreakable Bond for 15 Years
In a heartwarming tale of friendship and resilience, an American black bear named Baloo, an African lion named Leo, and a Bengal tiger named Shere Khan have formed an extraordinary bond that has endured for 15 years at the Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter in Georgia.
The trio’s story began in 2001 when they were rescued from the basement of an Atlanta home during a police drug raid. The cubs, all less than a year old at the time, were in dire conditions. Baloo, the bear, required surgery to remove an ingrown harness that had become embedded in his skin. Leo, the lion, was confined to a small cage with an open, infected wound on his nose. Shere Khan, the tiger, suffered from malnourishment and internal and external parasites.
The only time the trio was separated was during Baloo’s surgery, causing great distress to Leo and Shere Khan. Once reunited, they never left each other’s side, living, playing, eating, and sleeping together in the same enclosure at Noah’s Ark Animal Shelter.
