By Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
Take the largest, most aggressive predators from three different continents and throw them together in a cramped Atlanta apartment and what do you get? Mayhem? Well, not exactly. What you get exactly is a love story and a lesson in tolerance, perseverance and making life work. Thirteen years ago, Atlanta police burst into a drug dealer’s apartment and found, Baloo, a North American brown bear, Leo, an African lion, and Shere Khan, an Asian tiger. A status symbol in the drug culture, the then-cubs were sharing a miserable life of neglect and starvation. Freed from their captor, the trio were dispatched by authorities to the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in Locust Grove, Georgia for R & R. But then something wonderful and telling happened. The group, who had struggled together, began to thrive together.
“They actually seek out each others affections,” animal husbandry manager Allison Hedgecoth said. “They nuzzle each other. They play together.” A bond formed by duress and cooperation to survive was stronger than any sense of species identity. While the animals interact with the other residents of the preserve, their genuine affection for each other is out for all to see. It’s a brotherhood as real as any human institution.
The law continues to regard these creatures as mere property. Ignoring their very human-like sentiments and value to us, courts tell us that animals have only the value 
of a beast of burden or sideshow attraction. Stories like this make me wonder if they have value as teachers of humanity as well. Can mutual interest really suppress inborn aggression? Are ways available for creatures of different colors and attitudes to work and live together not just in tolerance but in genuine harmony? Will humans ever reach the utopia found by this unlikely “family”? Are Homo sapiens really the dominant species in a moral sense?
Noah’s Ark founder, Jama Hedgecoth seems to have discovered the secret that eludes many, “I think people, they really want to be like that. They teach you how to get along. They’re definitely not the same color. They’re not the same species. They’re not even from the same country, and they love each other. They’re brothers, and they teach you how to love.”
According to their website, Noah’s Ark is “a non-profit Animal Sanctuary dedicated to bringing children and animals together with the purpose of providing unconditional love, unconditional service and a future full of hope.” You can read about their good work here.
Future full of hope? Mission accomplished.
Source: Today
~Mark Esposito, Weekend Contributor
What do our reactions tell us about ourselves?
Are these animals functioning normally and naturally? What will they evolve into? If success is in the journey, these animals have none. There are many animals in zoos that are safe but not sane. Should we glean that we should all live in rubber rooms?
What has really happened here is that these entities have been incarcerated by a human exerting complete, arbitrary control (i.e. tyranny).
Isn’t this exactly what the ruling elite collectivists have done to free Americans? Is this the Manifesto nullifying the Constitution?
Is this abnormality better, superior to nature? The picture does not show the controllers; the puppet masters; the dictators that sit out of the frame. There are no winners or losers just sedated bio entities without dynamics, without a raison d’être.
Paul Schulte
“After reading to this point I see that the consensus seems to be if we put together in a basement and starved them long enough, then took out and feed them and kept them together while other people came by an looked pointed and took pictures, the world would be a much better.”
After reading your comments for the past few days , it occurs to me that if we were to submit you to this treatment the world just MIGHT be a better place.
LOL. Just kidding
“I am very glad they saved them, but there are no greater live lessons to be learned.”
Seriously; I think there are two things to be learned here.
1. sentient beings; under conditions of extreme adversity are able to strip away all superficial differences and overcome.
2. It seems clear that animals are morally superior to humans. They naturally make good choices for the benefit of all whereas we must force ourselves to do anything that isn’t immediately satisfying and/or beneficial to ourselves. (which I should point out is two levels of selfishness beyond)
Male lions kill the cubs of their new mates if the cubs are from a different sperm donor. Male bears kill cubs for food. Sows are constantly having to be on the watch for attacks on their cubs by males. These are the morally superior creatures you were speaking of?
Dredd
“If they can do it so can homo sapiens.”
I seriously doubt that. Homo sapiens have learned how to do what no other animal is capable of. Not kill for fun or even his own kind but the ability to lie for future benefit rather than just deceive for immediate gain.
This creates constant and consistent doubt as to the veracity of everything you are told and the intentions of others and this makes peaceful coexistence impossible or highly unlikely at best.
A positive story and great message. We’re members of the San Diego Zoo. I will go sometimes and sit for hours watching different animals. I always gravitate to the monkeys and apes. The only “reality” shows I watch are animal docs.
One of our cattle dogs has made friends with this year’s crop of coyote pups. He used to be mortal enemies with coyotes. The other day my husband was on his tractor when he saw his dog trotting along behind him with the 2 pups, happy as a clam. (He’s too big to be an object of prey himself.) The trio bounded along, doing play bows, until the pups melted away into the brush.
I love stories about this trio. If I recall correctly, the sanctuary tried to split them up into species-specific enclosures, but they were too unhappy apart.
bettykath
Dredd, These animals kill other species to eat, and never their own species. (Someone’s going to call me out on the “never’). Too many homo sapiens kill for sport, even killing each other.
====================
Homo sapiens have the choice but refuse peace and embrace war for some reason.
Probably the New Orleans Jazz influence: “It is forbidden to kill therefore all murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.” -Voltaire
Great story Mark. If only it was so easy for us to cooperate as well as these three “enemies”.
Great concept to have encouraged and nurtured these outstanding individuals ability to grow a primarily love based family bond. Kudos to the tender, touching abilities of our story writer Mark in placing this on a exquisite pedestal! Just like my wonderful little dogs, these creatures enable me to feel all the love I am humanly capable of feeling…..MISSION ACCOMPLISHED MARK!
After reading to this point I see that the consensus seems to be if we put everybody together in a basement and starved them long enough, then took out and feed them and kept them together while other people came by an looked pointed and took pictures, the world would be a much better.
I am very glad they saved them, but there are no greater live lessons to be learned.
We could learn a lesson fro these great beasts.
Incredible, and when human live with a decorum of humanity maybe we can have a chance.
Animal rights took a big hit in the US when animal rights activists were labeled as “terrorists”. But there is still hope for a rapid turnaround. Certainly in the US veganism is rapidly increasing. Hunting is declining. Pets are often equal to children. Animal abuse is front page news. Progress is being made. The hope is that recognition of animal rights will occur even more precipitously than recognition of marriage equality did.
Dredd, These animals kill other species to eat, and never their own species. (Someone’s going to call me out on the “never’). Too many homo sapiens kill for sport, even killing each other.
Great post, clearly one of the best for inter-species bonding.
If they can do it so can homo sapiens.
Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My!
Porkchop:
I said they were brothers – not saints.
Nice story Mark
All they need now is a lamb to complete the perfect picture of tolerance . . . oh, wait.