Hunter Games: Tiger & Dog Are Best Friends

The inseparable duo are taken for walks together every day – where they play-fight, wrestle and stalk one another through the grass.

Three-month-old tiger ‘Hunter' was born at The Farm Inn Wildlife Sanctuary in Pretoria, South Africa.

But the cute cub had to be taken away from his mother at birth when she started displaying aggressive behaviour towards him.

Now the rejected youngster has made an unlikely friend in a German Pointer puppy, just three weeks older than him.

The playful pair are looked after by student Anthea Michaletos, 22, who lives at the sanctuary.

Anthea said: “We believe that Hunter was born at a time when the female must have felt compromised in some way as she rejected him.

“Her actions toward him were threatening his survival so we intervened for the greater of his well being.”

Hunter’s lonely start in life was turned around when Anthea introduced him to her new puppy, named Chelsea.

Anthea said: “In the mornings when I take Chelsea out, she will run to his cage and greet him.

“There is a lot of wrestling involved, Chelsea pushes him over and then he jumps on her.”

Hunter was the only cub in his litter so is learning to interact and hunt with his canine companion.

Anthea said: “For him to have a four legged friend is very helpful because he can play in the same way that he would with another litter mate.

“He was the only cub in his litter and it’s very important for him to have a companion.”

Hunter has his own cage outside the house and the puppy is always sad to be separated from her predator playmate.

Anthea said: “When I say okay, play time is over and I put Hunter away she’ll go stand there for at least five minutes - wagging her tail.

“It’s almost like she’s saying no, I’m not done playing.

“I have to wrangle her back to the house.”

At the moment the enthusiastic puppy gets the better of the cub in their mock-fights.

But when Hunter reaches six-months-old the pair will need to be separated for the dog’s safety.

Anthea said: “If he does get Chelsea down, I do get a bit worried because he goes for the throat.

“But, she never cries, she cries immediately when she’s in discomfort and wriggles around. So, she’ll let me know if she’s not okay.

“I think six-months will be enough for them - that’s when they tend to get a bit boisterous and start to play too hard.”