Smuggled baby Bengal tiger has new pal

San Diego Zoo gives rescued cub a friend

The San Diego Zoo Safari Park has brought in a companion for a baby Bengal tiger rescued while being smuggled into California from Mexico.

A 9-week-old endangered Sumatran tiger cub was flown in from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., to join the other young tiger this week, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

“We are beyond thrilled to welcome this tiger cub,” Andy Blue, associate curator of mammals at the Safari Park, said in a statement. “His keepers reported he did extremely well during the flight -- slept most of the way. Our priority now is to ensure he continues to thrive and acclimates well to his new surroundings.”

Zoo officials said the D.C. male cub was moved after his mother became increasingly aggressive toward him during nursing, the Union-Tribune reported. They were separated, the mother went into a mating cycle and it became impossible for them to be put back in the same enclosure.

The two cubs met Monday afternoon in the Safari Park's nursery, the Union-Tribune reported. In video provided by the park, the pair jumped around and wrestled with each other.