Virginia's Metro Richmond Zoo has told an amazing story on its blog about a cheetah named Kumbali and his best friend and "brother," a lab mix named Kago.
When Kumbali was just two months old, zoo handlers observed he was losing weight and had become the runt of his mom's litter of three. So he was pulled from his two siblings and bottle-raised.
Soon the zoo had a problem on its hands. It was too soon to reintroduce Kumbali to his family, as he might look to them like a threat. But cheetahs are social animals, and zoo staff realized he needed a buddy.
New Cheetah Cubs Frolic In South Africa Park: Photos
Enter Kago, a cheerful lab puppy that Metro Richmond Zoo rescued from a local high-kill shelter. As evident in the video above, their very first meeting was a tiny bit tenuous, with Kumbali taking a light cuff or two at Kago, who was too curious and happy to be deterred.
Before long, though, the two became best friends. The zoo reports the pair behave as though they are the same species, despite their obvious differences. The only tough part is feeding both young animals, which have completely different diets. But the situation seems to be under control.
In the near term, the unlikely buddies will remain together. Future plans remain up in the air, but zoo staff says whatever is best for Kumbali will be the determining factor. If that means he and Kago live out their lives together, so be it.
The
, located in the North West Province of South Africa, west of Pretoria, witnessed an exciting development at the end of last month. A female cheetah the park had received from the Madikwe Game Reserve had given birth to four cubs. Seen here is the moment when the cheetah, named Rain, was first set loose in her new home.
Rain was moved to Pilanesberg from Madikwe so she'd have a better chance to thrive. Her new park had fewer predators with which to compete for food than did the Madikwe reserve. Here she scopes out her new surroundings.
Months after her release, Rain was seen in the company of two male cheetahs. A few months after those sightings, there were subtle hints that nature had taken its course and Rain had become a mom. Park staff had observed her behaving a bit strangely and staying out of sight for long periods of time. Sure enough, as we can see here, it turned out to be a confirmed case of cubs!
An environmental affairs member for the park soon set up a series of camera traps near the suspected location of the den. The results of that effort are the photos we have the pleasure of seeing here. Perhaps this leaping cub is camera shy!
It's one big gang-tackle of fun for the young'ins.
Rain's litter size of four is about average, though it's possible for a cheetah mother to deliver about twice as many.
This little one seems acutely aware it's being watched by a camera's eye.
But the more important watchful eyes belong to Rain, who effortlessly tolerates her young ones flinging themselves at her leg.
Mom's leg is good to hide behind as well.
So is her tail.
As the fun continues, Pilanesberg officials have high hopes that these little ones can all make it to adulthood, even though cheetah cub mortality rates can be scary-high -- as high as 90 percent, depending upon location. Good luck, little ones!