In 2001, a rescue operation in Atlanta, Georgia, uncovered an unexpected sight—three young predators, a lion, a tiger, and a bear, living together in captivity. Known as BLT (Baloo the bear, Leo the lion, and Shere Khan the tiger), they were rescued from a drug dealer’s basement where they had been kept in poor conditions. Taken in by the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary, these three formed an inseparable bond that lasted for over 15 years.

In the beginning, the three cubs were malnourished and infected with parasites, Shere Khan was the best off of the three and quickly recovered with treatment and a healthy diet upon arrival at Noah’s Ark. Leo was in worse shape with an infected wound on his nose from being confined to a crate that was too small. Baloo however, had it the worst of the three, after being constrained in a harness that had never been loosened to accommodate his size. When their friendship blossomed the trio were seen playing together, nuzzling one another, and being extremely affectionate to one another.

The only time that the three were separated was when Baloo the Black Bear underwent surgery. While he was having the surgery, Leo and Shere Khan, the Bengal tiger, paced and cried for their missing friend. They were shortly reunited and but were extremely bonded and lived out the rest of their days in a shared enclosure.

Humans could truly learn from the bond that these three have. No one ever told them that they could not love one another in spite of their difference, so they did just that. So now, even all these years later, they continue to do so.