VIRGINIA, Oct 7 — This video just goes to show dogs are not just known as man’s best friend, but they can also be a cheetah’s best friend too!
Cheetah cub Kumbali and Labrador mix puppy Kago are living proof that friends come in all shapes and sizes.
Officials at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia decided to bottle-raise Kumbali, who was born in May, after discovering he was having a hard time gaining weight after birth. It was discovered his mother was not producing enough milk for her three cubs.
“We then decided to continue hand-raising the baby, to ensure his health and growth. We instantly fell in love with him, but Kumbali was in need of a companion,” zoo staff explained in a video.
That companion, zoo staff determined, would be Kago, a lab mix puppy adopted from a pet rescue organisation.
“Kago and Kumbali were introduced to each other. After a thorough inspection and some uncertainty, the two quickly became pals,” zoo staff detailed in the video. “Initially, they were raised together inside a zookeeper's home to provide close monitoring and care. As Kumbali and Kago grew older, they were moved to an outdoor enclosure.”
The zoo plans to continue to raise the two animals together and they hope their friendship will be an example in raising other similar animals.
