A Lion, a Bear and a Tiger - Unlikely Friends

Georgia state police freed a lion named Leo, a tiger named Shere Khan and a bear named Baloo during an operation to round up a gang of drug dealers.

At the time, the animals were two months old. After being freed, they were taken to the "Noah's Ark" animal rescue center, whose staff decided not to separate the youngsters.

The friendship between the 450-kilogram bear and the 158-kilogram lion and tiger has lasted for eight years. According to the center's staff, there is something "amazing and magical in the way the huge black bear 'hugs' the Bengal tiger, while the tiger rubs its face against the bear like a house cat."

I took the pictures from the Noah's Ark Club House gallery on Facebook. The news was translated and published by VESTI.AZ, and you can also read and comment on it at the big cats forum.