Today we continue the journey to find strange friendships between lovely animals:
1. Elephants and sheep
Albert is a shy sheep living in the Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in South Africa. Every day, it hides in the shelter for up to 12 hours and hardly plays with any animals.
Staff in the center were surprised when Albert’s first friend was the baby elephant Themba. Somehow, Themba pulled the sheep out of the nest, leading it to explore the center. At first, the elephant seemed not very close to little Albert either. The sheep was like a wool roll rolling back and forth in front of the giant elephant.
Later, the two friends gradually got used to the difference in their bodies and became very close. Even they all like to eat sharp acacia. Albert’s most fantastic hobby is sitting on Themba’s back.
2. Giraffes and ostriches
The giraffe Bea, 3, and the ostrich Wilma, 10, live in the same 26-hectare area of Busch Gardens Amusement Park in Florida, USA. In that large area, the two animals met and befriended each other.
Jason Green, an employee, said: “Bea often explores her surroundings with her tongue. Oddly enough, when Bea brought her tongue close to her face, Wilma didn’t show any discomfort.”
3. Great Dane Dog and kittens
The Great Dane is a large but gentle dog. Even so, Eve Hughes, a woman living in Eve Hughes, Suffolk County, England, was still surprised to see Shadow, a Great Dane dog she raised, showing a close relationship with kitten George.
George’s previous owner abandoned him when he was only a few days old. Even though she was raising Shadow at the time, Eve brought it home. Eve thought the two animals would be difficult to get along with. However, right from the first meeting, Shadow was friendly with George. It leads the little cat around the new house. He even stood guard beside him while George ate.
“They have a habit of kissing each other on the nose,” Eve said.
4. Fox and Hound
Fox and fox hounds are ᴇɴᴇᴍɪᴇs of each other. However, Bella the dog and Maggie the fox are best friends. Their friendship is like a Disney fairy tale.
Bella’s previous owner abandoned it on a ʜᴜɴᴛɪɴɢ trip. Later, someone else discovered and brought the poor dog to the sanctuary in Thorrington, Essex, England. Meanwhile, Reserve staff found Maggie with her ʙʀᴀɪɴ ᴛʀᴀᴜᴍᴀᴛɪᴢᴇᴅ, unable to ʜᴜɴᴛ on her own, and nearly starving to ᴅᴇᴀᴛʜ by the side of the road.
The staff was amazed to see them getting along well with each other. Rosie Catford, the reserve’s founder, said: ‘They live like a family and are always happy to play together.
5. Lions, tigers, and bears
The trio of lions Leo, tiger Shere Khan, and Baloo, the bear, are a strange group in Noah’s Ark Sanctuary in Georgia, USA.
Sanctuary staff saved them from ᴅʀᴜɢ ᴅᴇᴀʟᴇʀs when they were two months old. All three were seriously ɪɴᴊᴜʀᴇᴅ and ɴᴇᴀʀʟʏ ᴅɪᴇᴅ ᴏғ sᴛᴀʀᴠᴀᴛɪᴏɴ. Then they permanently live and play together.
Diane Smith, the reserve’s assistant director, said: ‘We could have kept them separate, but seeing that the three animals were so close as a family, we decided to keep them together.
6. Rats and frogs
Azam Husain, a photographer, was amazed to witness the dramatic and strange rescue in the suburbs of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India. One day a frog tried to save a rat that nearly ᴅʀᴏᴡɴᴇᴅ in a pond. The frog put the mouse on its back and swam to the shore.
“It seems that the two animals communicate in their way. I believe they are true friends,” Azam Husain said.
7. Goose and deer
Usually, geese like to live in groups. However, a goose living near the Forest Lawn cemetery in New York City, USA, has a strange hobby when befriending deer. A deer has been seen patiently standing by its feathered friend’s nest for four days to ensure no one ᴅɪsᴛᴜʀʙs it.
The friendship between animals is lovely. Share this post with your family and friends to spread this eternal friendship and raise awareness of protecting animals and the environment together!