Wandering too far from home, Shanti, the tiger cub, is captured and sold by poachers to a rich man. But when she grows too big and aggressive to handle, he sends her to a zoo, where she becomes bored and lonely and loses her appetite. Unable to find a buddy tiger for Shanti, her keepers worry about her health. Then, one day, a beautiful painted bunting named Al appears, and they become good friends, sharing their day and eating their meals together...