Like a cat peering into a goldfish bowl, Akaasha the tiger cub is transfixed by a dolphin staring back at her.

Curiosity got the better of both Akaasha and Mavrick, a 14-month-old dolphin who's probably more used to a crowd of human faces gazing into his glass tank at a Californian theme park.

Dolphin and tiger cub I
© UnknownPaws for thought: Mavrick and Akaasha have a close encounter as another dolphin looks on

Staff were taking six-month-old Akaasha on her daily walk around the Six Flags Discovery Kingdom when she saw Mavrick, a 14-month-old Atlantic bottlenose dolphin.

Dolphin and tiger cub II
© UnknownSnout to whiskers: Their shared curiousity meant Mavrick dipped down to get a better view and Akaasha strained to get closer to the glass
The pair examined each other from all angles possible - then the dolphin blew an approving bout of bubbles towards the tiger.

Mavrick cocked his head as Akaasha strained to get closer to the glass, perhaps bewildered as to why she could not catch the scent of this strange new creature grinning at her from another world.

It may be the start of a beautiful friendship.

Dolphin and tiger cub III
© UnknownNice to meet you: Mavrick blows an approving bunch of bubbles at the entranced tiger cub