'The BLT' are a very unusual family - consisting of a bear, a lion and a tiger.
The three were rescued in a drug raid 15 years ago, and have been inseparable ever since.
They live together at the Noah's Ark Animal sanctuary in Georgia, US.
Baloo the American black bear, Leo the African lion and Shere Khan the Bengal tiger were all rescued when they were less than one year old.
Leo the lion was wounded and confined to a tiny cage, and Baloo the bear had to have his painfully tight harness surgically removed.
All three cubs were severely malnourished and infected by parasites.
The only time they were separated was when Baloo had surgery to remove the harness - and this separation greatly distressed the other two cubs.
Now, they are all healthy and happy, and lead a blissful life together as best friends.

Their situation is unique - as animals from different species often don't get along very well.

NineBerry wrote:Ah, they are all three neutered. That's the trick.

Animavore wrote:Lions and tigers and bears?

ScholasticSpastic wrote:

NineBerry wrote:Ah, they are all three neutered. That's the trick.

Think of all the wars we could prevent if we could only learn from their example.

SafeAsMilk wrote:

ScholasticSpastic wrote:

NineBerry wrote:Ah, they are all three neutered. That's the trick.

Think of all the wars we could prevent if we could only learn from their example.

Seriously. Eventually it'd be the end of all wars

SafeAsMilk wrote:I'm not sure the feminists would be able to survive the inability to breed

Alan B wrote:How are the other two coping?

It might be an interesting experiment to introduce a lion cub (neutered) to see how the two other adults would cope. If successful, then when either one of the other two have to go, repeat the experiment with another cub of the same departed species.