A strange friendship - How it began and ended

by Sumana Saparamadu

You must be familiar with the saying, "Truth is stranger than fiction." (Fiction is a made-up story). This is a story that proves how true that saying is.

This happened at the Children's Grand Park in Seoul, Korea over 31 years ago.

In October 1982, a mother tiger became very nervous and restless after giving birth to three cubs (baby tigers).She bit two of the cubs and ate them. The park keepers quickly took the third cub away.

Once separated from the mother the baby tiger looked lonely and cried often. He did not sleep much as baby cubs usually do.

The park officials decided to give the tiger cub a companion. It was not another tiger cub, but a puppy. They were put in the same cage. The puppy was ten months and the tiger cub barely three months. The tiger cub was completely changed after he got a 'mate.' He now looked happy, hugging and tumbling with the puppy. Soon they were so attached to each other, they became inseparable. Park keepers said, when the puppy was out of sight, the tiger cub who was given the name Hondori, roamed the 2,300 m field looking for his friend, Mary. Why did the park officials give the puppy a girl's name? That is an unanswered question. When Hondori turned one year their free out-door life came to an end. They were put in a cage. They were happy living together in the cage. Hondori was often seen resting his head on Mary's back.

Hondori outgrew Mary in size and began to show signs of a wild animal. But they continued to be friends. They were often seen growling over a piece of meat, but it soon ended when the tiger gave in.

Then one day their two-and-a-half year friendship came to an abrupt tragic end, over a piece of raw chicken. Hondori bit Mary in the neck, bit him very hard and Mary started bleeding.

The park veterinary surgeon said Mary was breathing his last and was looking very sad. Perhaps he was saying "Hondori, how could you do this to me?"