Life wasn’t always easy for this lion named Cameron and his white tigress Zabu. They were bred at a zoo in New England back in 2000 for one purpose only - to make ligers. Zabu, a Siberian-Bengal hybrid, had genetic flaws due to breeding and Cameron was 200 pounds underweight. Luckily, in 2004 they were both rescued from the zoo.
"When Zabu and Cameron were rescued, we constructed a large natural enclosure for the two of them to share since they are truly bonded as a couple," the Florida-based Big Cat Rescue writes. However, Cameron was getting extremely possessive of Zabu and became a threat to his keepers, so it was decided to neuter him (Zabu was spayed, too.) Sadly, Cameron lost his glorious mane but that's a small price to pay to stay together with his best friend.
"Cameron’s mood has mellowed dramatically and he seems much more comfortable in the hot Florida summers without the extra 15 pounds of fur around his neck. He has even become much more playful since he no longer worries about everything that is going on around his enclosure." The two enjoy each other's company to this day, running around, nuzzling, and taking peaceful naps.
More info: bigcatrescue.org (h/t: thedodo)
This lion and his tigress were bred at a zoo to make ligers (a hybrid cross between a lion and a tiger)
The tigress had genetic flaws due to breeding and Cameron was 200 pounds underweight
Luckily, the odd couple was rescued from the zoo by Big Cat Rescue
"We constructed a large natural enclosure for the two of them to share since they are truly bonded as a couple"
Over the years Cameron became more and more possessive of Zabu and would not allow keepers near the enclosure to clean or feed
"We had only two choices; separate him from Zabu forever or neuter him"
Cameron was neutered which resulted in the loss of his glorious mane but that's a small price to pay to stay together with his best friend
"Cameron’s mood has mellowed dramatically and... he has even become much more playful"
The two enjoy each other's company to this day running around, nuzzling, and taking peaceful naps
