A wildfire in Santa Barbara, California last month helped forge some unlikely
bonds. Rescued from the Jesusita Fire, a 3-week old bobcat kitten and 3 day
old fawn became fast friends. The animal rescue in California brought predator
and prey together. But these babies simply took comfort in each other’s company,
snuggling under a desk at a dispatch office for hours.The bobcat and fawn would not normally be placed together, due to regulations, but the rescuers had no choice. They snagged the bobcat kitten first, finding it dehydrated and near death. Later, they brought in the fawn and discovered they didn’t have a crate large enough for it. No matter – the kitten ran right over to the fawn, and the two became fast friends.
Owen and Mzee
In December 2004, a frightened young hippo, separated from his family by a devastating tsunami, bonded with an Aldabra tortoise named Mzee. The 130 year-old tortoise accepted Owen as his own, and an inseparable bond was forged.
Owen immediately bonded to Mzee and would crouch behind him. However, Mzee initially resisted Owen's overtures. Over time, the old tortoise came to accept the young hippo, who began to mimic his adoptive parent. Gradually, Mzee taught Owen, who was a nursing calf, what to eat and where to sleep.
In the first year, the two became inseparable companions who ate,
slept, swam, and played together. Owen often played with the old tortoise by jumping on Mzee's back, scratching the old tortoise on the neck, and in many other ways. They surprised scientists with the strength of what appeared to be a genuine bond, as well as with the unique vocal communication that developed between them.
Happy Friday!
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