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[Kathie Shayne]

Living with the zoo's founders for the past eight years, Shere Khan, Baloo and Leo have now moved to a purpose built habitat Photo: BARCROFT .
More images after the break...

[Kathie Shayne]

Tiger, lion and bear form unusual friendship Charles Hedgecoth with Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear Photo: BARCROFT Tiger, lion and bear form unusual friendship...and with with Leo, the lion.

[Kathie Shayne]

Rescued eight years ago during a police drugs raid in Atlanta, Georgia, the three friends were only cubs at the time and barely two months old. They had been kept as status symbol pets by the drug barons. Delivered to the Noah's Ark animal rescue centre in Locust Grove, Georgia, the decision was made to keep the youngsters together.

[Kathie Shayne]

"We could have separated them, but since they came as a kind of family, the zoo decided to keep them together," said Diane Smith, assistant director of the Noah's Ark zoo.
"To our knowledge, this is the only place where you'll find this combination of animals together, they are our BLT, (bear, lion and tiger).

[Kathie Shayne]

Living with the zoo's founders for the past eight years, Shere Khan, Baloo and Leo have now moved to a purpose built habitat were the US public can now witness first hand their touching relationship.

[Kathie Shayne]

"We didn't have the money to move them at first," said DIane.

"Now their habitat is sorted and they have been moved away from the children's zoo areas where the public couldn't really get a good look.

"Now, though, it is possible to see Baloo, who is a 1,000 pound bear, Shere Khan, a 350 pound tiger and Leo, who is also 350 pounds messing around like brothers.

"They are totally oblivious to the fact that in any other circumstance they would not be friends."

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