Tigers are usually seen as strong animals. Their big size can scare people and other animals. But Aasha, a Bengal tiger, had a different story.
Aasha’s fur had bald patches, and she weighed only 30 pounds, looking weak and delicate. Instead of living in the wild, she was kept in a small cage with a traveling circus.
The people running the circus and the other tiger sharing her cage did not care for her. Aasha was neglected, hurt, and mistreated.
Thankfully, the folks from In-Sync Exotics Wildlife Rescue and Educational Center came to save her. They took her away from the terrible conditions and gave her a new chance at life.
They also introduced her to a special friend who had been through similar troubles. This tiger, like Aasha, was struggling. He had ringworm and was very underweight, weighing as much as a three-month-old cub.
Vicky Keahey, the founder of the rescue group, was dedicated to changing the tigers’ lives. Taking care of mistreated tigers is not easy and can be dangerous, even for experts.
Vicky was determined to help, even if it meant risking her own life. Every day, she entered Aasha’s enclosure to give her medicine and to show the tiger she meant no harm.
This was a tough task because Aasha did not like water, making her daily medicated baths challenging. Sometimes, Vicky had to chase Aasha around to give her the bath.
It took eight months of hard work to help Aasha recover. Her fur grew back beautifully, and she gained weight. When she was healthy enough, she was introduced to another tiger named Smuggler.
Aasha and Smuggler bonded immediately. They loved spending hours playing by Aasha’s pool. Seeing how well they got along, the team decided to let them live together.
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Even though Aasha and Smuggler were different in age and size, they became very close. Their friendship impressed many people online. One YouTube user said, “I love it … she’s so beautiful, thank you to the people who work in this detail. Amen ❤️.”
Another commented, “I am so glad to hear that she was rescued and recovered well. Kudos to these people with a good heart.” Someone else wrote, “The circus should not be allowed to own these animals. That makes me mad as hell to see that tiger looking like that. Thank you for rescuing her.”
Aasha’s story shows the strength of animals and the positive impact of kind people who help them.