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WATCH: Puppy and Baby Cheetah Become Best Friends at San Diego Zoo [2 videos]
Pet360 ^
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| Grieves, Deidre
Posted on 02/27/2015 2:24:37 PM PST by Slings and Arrows
Puppies may be the cutest animals on the planet. They wag and wobble and smell completely amazing. We love puppies. But there is one thing we love even more than baby canines—when puppies and other adorable animals become best friends.
That’s exactly what is going on at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park in California. Ruuxa, one of the park’s new cheetah cubs was recently paired with Raina, a Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy, and the pair have become inseparable.
The park began to socialize Ruuxa with Raina when the cheetah was 6 weeks old and the dog was just 7 weeks old. The zoo pairs baby cheetahs with puppies so that the wild cats learn to identify the dog’s body language and cues, which helps the cheetahs stay calm and relaxed in public surroundings as they grow up.
The cheetahs paired with the puppies are called ambassadors, and they are the cats that are trained to participate in the park's Cheetah Run experience. The zoo currently has four cheetah ambassadors who have canine best friends.
Ruuxa and Raina have formed an important bond and the pair will be taken care of at the zoo as lifelong companions.
Warning; The video of Ruuxa and Raina’s first meeting might be too much cuteness for you to handle.
(Excerpt) Read more at pet360.com ...
TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: kittyping
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Videos at source. Thought we could use some cheering-up today.
To: Slings and Arrows; Joe 6-pack; Glenn; republicangel; Beaker; BADROTOFINGER; etabeta; asgardshill; ..
2
posted on
02/27/2015 2:25:35 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
To: Slings and Arrows
Rhodesian Ridgebacks are used to hunt lions!
To: afraidfortherepublic
My neighbors had one, that thing was awesome.
4
posted on
02/27/2015 2:30:07 PM PST
by
EEGator
To: Slings and Arrows
Too cute.
Witness the miracle of cute.
Animal Planet missed this one.
5
posted on
02/27/2015 2:34:31 PM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
To: Slings and Arrows
Oh yeah - girls rule, boys drool.
6
posted on
02/27/2015 2:35:31 PM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
To: Slings and Arrows
True love knows knows no bounds:
7
posted on
02/27/2015 2:38:06 PM PST
by
goldstategop
(In Memory Of A Dearly Beloved Friend Who Lives In My Heart Forever)
To: EEGator
Awesome they are, but it just seems strange to force a friendship between a dog bred to hunt big cats and a big cat. I’d keep a sharp eye on them.
To: Slings and Arrows
Years ago we had a Rhoadesian Ridgeback named Ol’ Yaller. Loved that ol’ dog, and miss him to this day.
We’d love to have another one. Wonderful experience with that dog.
9
posted on
02/27/2015 2:39:28 PM PST
by
rockinqsranch
((Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will. They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.))
To: Slings and Arrows
My youngest:
10
posted on
02/27/2015 2:40:22 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: trisham
I love the snowy snout.
.
11
posted on
02/27/2015 2:43:38 PM PST
by
Mears
(To learn, who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize."~~Voltaire))
To: trisham
Aww! I want to skritch his ears!
12
posted on
02/27/2015 2:54:25 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
To: goldstategop
Apparently zoos have been doing it for quite some time. Calms the cheetahs down.
13
posted on
02/27/2015 2:55:15 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
To: afraidfortherepublic
Well then, this one has a head start.
14
posted on
02/27/2015 2:55:42 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
To: goldstategop
15
posted on
02/27/2015 2:56:01 PM PST
by
Slings and Arrows
("Ragnarok" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4L5nD7-qsEw)
To: goldstategop
“True love knows knows no bounds:”
Give it year and that pup will become a snack.
16
posted on
02/27/2015 3:00:29 PM PST
by
EQAndyBuzz
(Islam is the military wing of the Communist party.)
To: Slings and Arrows
17
posted on
02/27/2015 3:04:57 PM PST
by
trisham
(Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
To: Slings and Arrows
It’s all fun and games until somebody gets their ear chewed off..........
18
posted on
02/27/2015 3:06:28 PM PST
by
Hot Tabasco
(Uncle Sy: "Beavers are like Ninjas, they only come out at night and they're hard to find")
To: goldstategop
True love knows knows no bounds Hounds:
19
posted on
02/27/2015 3:08:30 PM PST
by
Hot Tabasco
(Uncle Sy: "Beavers are like Ninjas, they only come out at night and they're hard to find")
To: afraidfortherepublic
Ancient Egyptians used to raise cheetahs to hunt like dogs.
I am not sure how dangerous cheetahs are but I would imagine they would be easier to deal with than lions or leopards.
20
posted on
02/27/2015 3:15:26 PM PST
by
GraceG
(Protect the Border from Illegal Aliens, Don't Protect Illegal Alien Boarders...)
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