Amazing Tiger and Human Relationship at Aspinall Park

Check out this amazing picture of the touching bond between a keeper and a hand raised tiger cub at the Aspinall Foundation’s Howlett’s park near Canterbury. The one year old female tiger called Arina, has become really attached to her keepers at the park, and their incredible bond appears to be blossoming.

Unfortunately Arina and her brother were left by their mother soon after birth, meaning that if the Aspinall Foundation had not stepped in and helped out, they would have both died. Fortunately the animal charity were on hand to help the tiger cubs from the very start, and due to the constant human interaction they have received, have become very fond of their keepers.

Head of Carnivore Section, Ben Warren, said –

This interaction is vital to Arina’s health and development – she looks to us for everything she would look to her parents and siblings for and  It will also help us develop a greater insight into her behaviour. Arina has a deformed leg and this close contact will help us treat her, if necessary, in the future – without the risk of sedation.

It’s incredible to see this close bond between humans and an animal, that in the wild, would see us more as food than friend! After 11 months Arina is now the size of a large dog, and she loves to spend her time playing with the keepers at the Aspinall Foundation park. Unfortunately her brother Kazmir fell in and passed away earlier in the year, making the keepers interaction even more vital to her life.

They now take on the roles of not only parents, but also siblings to ensure Arina has a fun and fulfilling life at the Aspinall Foundation park. Here’s hoping the relationship between this amazing new family continues to blossom, as they look really good together

If you would like to help animals such as Arina, why not check out the selection of amazing creatures you can adopt through the Aspinall Foundation? Your donations go a long way in the fight to save not only endangered species, but also those that have been abandoned and desperately need our help.