Your Daily Dish

Feeding Outrageous to you Daily

Hide Advertisement
  • Animals
    • Farm
    • Pets
    • Zoo
    • Wildlife
  • Family
    • Grandparents
    • Kids
    • Parents
  • Health
    • Exercise
    • Food
    • Medical
  • Humor
  • Lifestyle
    • News
    • Science & Tech
    • Travel
  • Videos
Site logo
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

SEE IT: Puppy, Cheetah Cub Form Special Bond at Richmond Zoo

By Jason Owen 2 min read
Advertisement - Continue reading below
puppy cheetah friendship
Source: Metro Richmond Zoo

At the Metro Richmond Zoo in Mosley, Virginia, a cheetah and a puppy have become best friends.

Kumbali was the youngest cheetah cub of a litter of three. When he was just a few weeks old, his caretakers noticed that while the other two cubs were getting larger, Kumbali was actually getting smaller. They quickly dove into the problem and discovered that Kumbali’s mother had only two functioning nipples of eight, meaning Kumbali hadn’t been eating. Zookeepers quickly took Kumbali to bottle-raise the cub, and they eventually reintroduced him to the pack.

Advertisement

Within weeks, Kumbali was getting stronger, and he returned to full strength. But due to the nature of cheetahs, reintroducing Kumbali to his mom and siblings would be awfully dangerous, as the mother would now consider him a threat to her other children. Still, Kumbali needed a non-human companion. As the zoo put it, “Man’s best friend would soon become cheetah’s, too.”

puppy cheetah friendship
Source: Metro Richmond Zoo

For more than 30 years, dogs have been used as companion animals for cheetahs in these circumstances.

“This symbiotic relationship would never happen in the wild; however, we believe the positive outcomes outweigh any negative,” the zoo wrote on its website. “As the two grow up together, they create a bond that becomes almost inseparable, sibling-like. They provide companionship for each other. The dog has a calming influence because the cheetah will take behavioral cues from the dog — learning not to fear his surroundings, but instead embracing them with confidence. The dog normally becomes the dominant figure in the relationship by becoming the protector and leader. The cheetah will not hurt or kill his friend.”

Enter Kago.

Kumbali and Kago have become best friends, and the animals are teaching one another. They run, jump, and play all the time.

puppy cheetah friendship
Source: Metro Richmond Zoo

“And maybe these two can teach humans something about living together as well,” the zoo said. “They don’t even seem to recognize their differences in species, size, or color. There is only acceptance. Maybe we, as humans, have some things to learn from these two.”

Editor’s Note: This piece was first published on Oct. 7, 2015.
Advertisement - Continue reading below

sdfdsf

Little Girl Gives Herself Epic Pep Talk in the Mirror
Trending
Mauricio Castillo 1 min read

Little Girl Gives Herself Epic Pep Talk in the Mirror

World’s First Robot Farm to Open in 2017
Food
Lauren Boudreau 2 min read

World’s First Robot Farm to Open in 2017

How to Build an Adorable DIY Fairy Garden
Lifestyle
Lauren Boudreau 2 min read

How to Build an Adorable DIY Fairy Garden

Review: ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Will Delight Die-Hard Fans and Newcomers Alike
Apple
Robin Milling 3 min read

Review: ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ Will Delight Die-Hard Fans and Newcomers Alike

7-Year-Old Japanese Boy Abandoned by Parents Found Alive in Forest After 6 Days
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

7-Year-Old Japanese Boy Abandoned by Parents Found Alive in Forest After 6 Days

Bindi Irwin Wins ‘Dancing with the Stars’
Entertainment
Sara Wilkins 2 min read

Bindi Irwin Wins ‘Dancing with the Stars’

Nintendo Goes for Nostalgia With $60 Plug-and-Play NES Classic Edition
Apple
Brian Delpozo 2 min read

Nintendo Goes for Nostalgia With $60 Plug-and-Play NES Classic Edition

Sofia Vergara Speaking With Helium Is as Magical as You’d Expect
Apple
Mauricio Castillo 1 min read

Sofia Vergara Speaking With Helium Is as Magical as You’d Expect

Ellen DeGeneres Involves Medal of Freedom Honorees in Mannequin Challenge
Apple
Sara Wilkins 2 min read

Ellen DeGeneres Involves Medal of Freedom Honorees in Mannequin Challenge

Chewy the Alpaca Takes the Internet by Storm
Trending
Felissa Allard 1 min read

Chewy the Alpaca Takes the Internet by Storm

DNC Suspends Bernie Sanders Data Privileges
News
Felissa Allard 2 min read

DNC Suspends Bernie Sanders Data Privileges

Donald Trump Got the Border Wall He Wanted and It’s Around His Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
Apple
Jason Owen 2 min read

Donald Trump Got the Border Wall He Wanted and It’s Around His Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

sidebar

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

sidebar-alt

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • For Advertisers