After
Aryas Borges rescued two abused tigers from a circus in 2005, he got very close
to his new pets. He started an improvised exotic animal sanctuary at his home
in Maringa, Brazil, where he now owns seven tigers, two lions and one pet
chihuahua named Little, according to ABC News.
Everyone —
tigers included — hangs out in the same house.
Aryas and
his three daughters, Nayara, Uyara and Deusanira — ages 20, 23 and 24 —
consider their compound a safe and loving environment for the tigers. Uyara has
a 2-year-old daughter, who can be seen in photos riding on the tigers.
“You have
to show the animals respect and love, that’s how you get it back from them,”
Aryas told ABC.
Nayara,
20, regularly swims with Tom the tiger for exercise. She says, “Ever since the
tigers were born, we have taken care of them, feeding them, so their instincts
became dormant.”
Instincts
overpowering domesticity is an all too familiar tale, however, and there are
several cases of attacks by trained exotic animals. One of the most famous examples
happened in 2003, when performer Roy — of Siegfried and Roy fame —
was mauled by his white tiger. Regardless, the family claims that they
feel safe with their tigers.
ABC notes
that the family is under extreme scrutiny and faces legal battles as animal
rights activists fight to confiscate Aryas’ caretaker’s license and the right
to breed tigers.
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