Despite the fact that circuses seem amusing, we rarely think about what is behind the impeccable performances of animals.
The animals at circus often aren’t receiving proper care. The mere fact that they are exempt from their natural environment and forced into unnatural behavior is bad for animals.
Aasha, a Bengal tiger, belonged to a traveling circus. She shared a cage with a much larger tiger that frequently picked on her. Aasha was just 9 months old, but she only weighed around 30 pounds when she was supposed to weigh around 120.
Luckily, Vicky Keahey, founder of Texas’ In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center, took her under her care back in 2011.
As soon as she saw Aasha in person, she knew exactly what plagued the young tiger cub: ringworm. Aasha’s bald spots covered almost her entire body and her skin was dry with darkened areas and bleeding. She also had open wounds, which were probably bite marks from the larger tiger she lived with. A trip to the veterinarian confirmed Aasha’s ringworm and she was taken to an isolated enclosure at In-Sync Exotics.
Within eight months she looked like a real, healthy tiger. When she recovered it was time to see how she would react to other tigers.
Aasha has received proper medical care and in a few months her condition improved significantly
She was presented to Smuggler. He went crazy for her and was always showing off in front of her. Despite the fact that he was three times Aasha’s size, it seemed that there was an attraction between the two.
They got to know each other better through supervised playdates, until they were ready to move into the same enclosure together.
She became a playful, confident adult tiger with a love for the one thing she used to be scared of the most – water.
Want to help In-Sync Exotics continue doing good work for animals in need? Consider donating here.
More info: the dodo | (h/t: boredpanda)
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