Endangered Tiger Cubs Became Best Friends To Survive
- 7 years ago
A Sumatran tiger cub and a Bengal tiger cub are now roommates — and best friends.
The Sumatran originally in the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., but was rejected by his mother. So, he was flown to San Diego to live with his new buddy.
The Bengal was saved from smugglers on the Mexican-American border. Zoologists paired the male cubs, hoping companionship would be beneficial for both their physical and mental health. Their survival is critical; both species are in danger of becoming extinct. There are only 400 to 500 Sumatrans and 2,500 Bengals left. So there's much more to this friendship than cute roughhousing.
Although let's face it, that's reason enough.
The Sumatran originally in the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C., but was rejected by his mother. So, he was flown to San Diego to live with his new buddy.
The Bengal was saved from smugglers on the Mexican-American border. Zoologists paired the male cubs, hoping companionship would be beneficial for both their physical and mental health. Their survival is critical; both species are in danger of becoming extinct. There are only 400 to 500 Sumatrans and 2,500 Bengals left. So there's much more to this friendship than cute roughhousing.
Although let's face it, that's reason enough.