Dogs are social animals – after all, they’re known as ‘man’s best friend’ for a reason. But it’s not just humans that they get on well with. Could they become friends with a cheetah?
Visitors to Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey were left bemused after spotting a Labrador in the cheetah enclosure. One visitor took to Reddit to share an image of the dog taking a nap. “Went to the zoo today and I’m 99 percent sure that’s not a cheetah…” wrote Redditor Davidowicza on the ‘funny’ subreddit in a post that’s since gone viral.
Bowie and Nandi
However, this wasn’t a stray dog or a pet going rogue – Bowie the Labrador lives at the zoo. The canine works as a support animal for Nandi the cheetah, and the pair have been best friends since they were both just a few weeks old.
Cheetahs are shy by nature, and as dogs are more outgoing they can help them become more confident and sociable. Due to Bowie’s influence, Nandi has gained the confidence of a dog, and follows her best friend everywhere.
She enjoys joining Bowie for wrestling and cuddles, and enjoys playing with tennis balls and ice toys.
Cheetah and Labrador: An Unlikely Friendship
While it might seem like a surprising match-up, cheetahs are often paired with dogs, with the pooches acting as surrogate siblings. Labradors make good candidates with their often friendly and sociable nature. Other zoos have paired them up with cheetahs to give them a confidence boost.
At the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, cheetah Emmett and Labrador Cullen have been best friends for years, and there’s even a program of cheetah ambassador dogs at the zoo — the first cheetah ambassador, Coby, died last year.
Cheetahs might be the fastest land animal, but they’re considered vulnerable. It’s estimated that there are fewer than 8,000 African cheetahs left in the wild, and fewer than 50 Asian cheetahs in the world. Many zoos with cheetahs are part of breeding programs, and their canine friends play an important role too.
