Meet the dog that thinks there's nothing sweetah than a cheetah

Daily Mail ^ | 20th June 2008 | Daily Mail Reporter

[Daffynition]

Sahara and Alexa are the best of mates, but they have a very unconventional friendship.

That is because Sahara is cheetah and Alexa is a giant Anatolian Shepherd guard dog.

Destroying the notion that cats and dogs can only be the best of enemies, these two residents of Cincinnati Zoo in the US have been old muckers since they were both barely two months old.

Both seven years old now, Alexa and Sahara were raised together as part of a conservation programme at the zoo designed to help ensure Sahara's African cousins survival in the wild.

Linda Castaneda, 31, who is part of the Cat Ambassador scheme, which works in conjunction with the Cheetah Conservation Fund of Africa, explained: 'The point of the Cat Ambassador Programme is to protect cheetahs from over-zealous farmers in Namibia and South Africa.

'We want to show the farmers that the cheetahs at least have respect for the dog and that more importantly the dog has no fear of the cat.

'Hopefully, if the farmers all take on the Anatolian guard dog then we can eradicate the need to shoot them because they won't be getting near to the livestock.'

As Linda goes on to say: 'The dog is a fantastic non-lethal predatory solution.'

'It has been bred in Turkey for thousands of years as a sturdy herd dog and would never leave livestock that it was trained to guard.'

Sahara and Alexa travel to schools around America showing off their unconventional friendship to fascinated school children.

Weighing in at 100lbs Alexa would have no problems defending herself if Sahara the cheetah who is a decidedly skinny 85lbs ever decided to get a bit frisky.

Linda added: 'When they play together it is all in good fun until one or the other takes it a step too far.

'They both have an eyeball to eyeball moment and then both understand that play time is over.'

Unlike their younger days, Alexa and Sahara need their own time and space and each have their own enclosures within the zoo.

Meeting up for their educational tours, when they are reunited it is like they have never been apart.

However, truly the oddest part of their relationship is Alexa the dogs attitude towards her canine brothers and sisters.

Because Alexa is actually a zoo animal and spends the majority of her time with cats she can not be let near other domesticated dogs in case she tries to eat them!

So that begs the question, does Alexa think she is a cat or does Sahara think she is a dog?

[Daffynition]

CINCINNATI, USA: Collect picture of Alexa, an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, and Sahara, a Cheetah when they her babies at Cincinnati Zoo . The pair, who love playing together in their enclosure, also help to educate the zoo's visitors by showing people how two animals caan get along together and how dogs like Alexa are helping ensure the survival of cheetahs in Africa. Farmers in Africa often shoot cheetahs that try to hunt farm animals, but dogs like Alexa who live on the farms chase the cheetahs (who are extremely timid by nature) away from the farm animals, saving them from the farmers guns.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY GREG HANSON / BARCROFT MEDIA LTD

Play-time: Alexa an Anatolian Shepherd Dog, and Sahara a Cheetah who have grown up together at Cincinnati Zoo and are best friends

School time: The odd couple meet a group of amazed schoolchildren

[doorgunner69]

Take a lot of meat to keep those two fed..............

[madison10]

Doesn’t hurt that they are the same size...neither is dominate. Beautiful animals!

[fishergirl]

Wow, they’re gorgeous!

[PGalt]

Cool! Very good post. Thanks.

[xcamel]

wow... amazing...

[eastforker]

No doubt in my mind if that cat was intent on fighting that dog, well, lets just say the cat would have a few fresh meals ahead of him.

[muggs]

I'm a member of the Cincinnati Zoo and usually visit at least twice a month and I had to read this here to know anything about it. Cool, thanks for posting.

The worst part of going to the zoo is the neighborhood you have to drive through to get there. It truly is the hood.

[fishergirl]

No doubt!

[peeps36]

Cheetahs are very careful about which animals they will fight. I watched a documentary about the cheetah that showed it as a very cautious animal who is easily injured. It wouldn't even fight against a vulture taking away an animal it just killed. They are the exact opposite of a tough bruiser like the leopard.

[Kimmers]

Thank you for a great post.....love stories like this

[dynachrome]

kitty ping? dog ping?

[dynachrome]

Cool!

[goldstategop]

The cheetah is the only big cat that can be tamed. They used to be the companions of kings.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

The worst part of going to the zoo is the neighborhood you have to drive through to get there. It truly is the hood.

Same problem in Boston getting to Franklin Park. Didn't used to be that way before 1960 when it was a Jewish neighborhood.

[BroJoeK]

Is this the same couple?

I took this picture at the San Diego Zoo this week.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Cheetahs are naturally very cautious animals ans would rather run away than fight. Even a very hungry pair of cheetahs will abandon a fresh kill if a leopard or hyena shows up. A large dog would keep them away, too.

[mountn man]

For your attention

[Daffynition]

.. and finding the story it a UK paper to boot. It’s an interesting story and I’m glad you liked it. ;)

[Daffynition]

Wow! It surely doesn’t look like the same dog though...not that there couldn’t be another similar dog/cat relationship in zoodom. ;)

[Spktyr]

Incorrect, certain leopards could be “tamed” as well. Also companions of royalty.

[Snurple]

Ive got a 125 pound rottweiler who would beg to differ with you on that.

[Slings and Arrows]

[dighton]

Certain leopards.

[Biggirl]

At least we see what ancient royalty used to do with the wild cats and as a precurser to our domestic cats. =^..^=

[Ultra Sonic 007]

ping

[Ultra Sonic 007]

The Cheetah/Dog in the column are from a zoo in Cincinnati.

[Ready4Freddy]

Great pic, BroJoeK, thanks! The San Diego Zoo cheetah / dog pair you photographed is apparently their 3rd such pair:

Kid Territory:Critters: The Cheetah and the Golden Retriever

[happinesswithoutpeace]

bkmark