WATCH: Six Flags Shows Off Lion, Tiger Cubs It's Raising Together

JACKSON, NJ -- In the wild, an African lion and a Siberian tiger would never cross paths.

In the “wilds” of the safari nursery at Six Flags Great Adventure, however, an African lion cub and a Siberian tiger cub are being hand-raised together for a few months after the pair were neglected by their respective mothers, according to park officials.

The Siberian tiger cub, the first born at the safari in 13 years, arrived about a week after the African lion cub was born, said Dr. Ken Keiffer, a veterinarian at Six Flags. The lion was born Nov. 19 and weighed 3 pounds, and the tiger followed on Thanksgiving and weighed 2.4 pounds, officials said.

“Within a week, two first-time mothers gave birth to healthy cubs but failed to care for them, so we stepped in,” Keiffer said. The veterinary team feeds the cubs by hand up to six times per day with a mixture of puppy formula and canned food designed for cats such as lions and tigers, he said, “like a big milkshake.”

Though the two species would never interact in the wild -- Siberian tigers originate in Asia, far from the deserts of the African continent -- the two are being raised as if they are part of a litter, eating, playing and snuggling together. Park spokeswoman Kristen Siebeneicher said the cubs, both females, are expected be together for a few months.

“Raising the cubs together helps to develop their socialization skills, and will enhance their chances of being successfully introduced to their own species at the safari when they are a bit older,” Keiffer said.

The cubs also are finding their voices and personalities; Keiffer said the lion cub is much more relaxed while the tiger cub is far more dominant and vocal.

Siberian tigers are on the endangered species list, and tigers rank as the world’s largest living cats. Approximately 3,200 are estimated to live in the wild.

The new cub is the fifth Siberian tiger at the safari.

African lions are the second largest living cat in the world, and with fewer than 19,000 in the wild are now being protected under the endangered species act, Safari Director and Chief Veterinarian Bill Rives said.

Several healthy African lion cubs have been born in the Six Flags safari during the last few years, and the new cub is the 20th lion at the safari.