Meet Anjana, surrogate mother to twin tiger cubs
When Hurricane Hannah hit in September, the sanctuary in which a mother tiger and her twin cubs were living was flooded. The mother and her two cubs were moved but the mother showed signs of stress and became aggressive. They felt it would be in the best interest of the two twin tigers named Mitra and Shiva to be placed at The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species a.k.a. T.I.G.E.R.S. located in South Carolina.
China York, who works at the sanctuary as an infant animal care taker, has looked after Anjana, a chimpanzee, since she was born. These two have been inseperable. China has taken care of leopards, lions and oranguatans. Because of their closeness, Anjana has learned how to help with these animals by copying China. China and Anjana had just finished raising four lions!
China York with Anjana, Mitra and Shiva
So I guess it came as no surprise when Anajana became a surrogate mother to these twin tiger cubs. Anjana bottle feeds them, lies with them, gives them close contact and has bonded with them and gives them the nurturing they need since they don’t have their real mom.
The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species is a wildlife education organization with informative, educational and entertaining interactive programs. I know someone who has visited this place and I was told it is truly a one- of- a- kind experience. I’d like to visit someday.
The animals from the insitute have been used in several movies including Dr. Dolittle, Ace Ventura and Mighty Joe Young, to name a few.
It is amazing the compassion of animals, particularly wild animals. We humans could take a lesson from Anjana. One day I brought a baby duck home when its mother rejected him. My dog, Shadow, took a great interest in Lucky. Lucky imprinted to me as his mom since his natural mother wanted nothing to do with him. All three of us spent time together.
I will never forget the gentleness Shadow showed towards Lucky. Lucky was such a tiny thing and Shadow would reach out his paw to gently touch him. It was so amazing the bond Shadow and Lucky had, I videotaped it. Unfortunately, no matter what measures my husband and I took, Lucky died within a week. They say animals in the wild are rejected when the mothers know something is wrong with their babies and she was right. But I will never forget the bond Shadow and Lucky had nor the bond I shared with Lucky. Lucky walked over into my hand that fateful morning. He wanted to be with me when he died. He died as I held him.