Infant wildlife cannot thrive in their natural habitat without the nurturing and guidance of their mothers. If they are left behind by their mothers or herds, they will encounter difficulties with thirst, hunger, and hazards (both from nature and humans). Some can endure and wait for assistance, but unfortunately, others cannot.
Fortuitously, Hunter the tiger cub avoids that fate. He was delivered at The Farm Inn Hotel, which is a nature preserve located in Pretoria, South Africa. Nonetheless, the newborn animal was forsaken by his mother just a couple of days after he was born. The mother displayed hostile conduct towards him. This caused the cub to suffer both physically and emotionally.
“We assume that Hunter was born during a period when the female must have felt vulnerable in some aspect, which caused her to reject him,” stated Anthea Michaletos, who volunteers at the sanctuary.
Fortunately, an endearing German Pointer puppy named Chelsea approaches Hunter and befriends him. They get along splendidly and develop an unbreakable connection. The deserted cub finds affection and solace in his canine comrade.
Companionship manifests in various forms. The remarkable bond between Hunter and Chelsea can serve as compelling evidence of this notion.
Chelsea is a mere three weeks senior to Hunter. The two of them share a harmonious relationship. They derive pleasure from spending time with each other, be it eating, sleeping, or playing. Their favored activity is wrestling – pushing each other over and leaping onto one another. The tiger cub and the puppy relish their time together under the watchful eye of their caregiver.
Chelsea unfailingly visits Hunter’s enclosure every morning to greet him. The puppy even feels dejected when she has to part from her buddy.
Even though their companionship may terminate in a couple of months when Hunter turns six months old, the duo remains the closest of friends.