Spot the difference: The leopard and the golden retriever who are the best of friends

Daily Mail ^ | May 6, 2010 | Staff

[C19fan]

It's a role reversal not commonly seen, but then the cat chasing this dog is a little larger than most. Salati, a ten-month-old leopard, and her best friend, golden retriever Tommy, like nothing more than to run amok before settling down for a friendly cuddle. The odd couple were reared together at Glen Afric Country Lodge near Pretoria in South Africa.

[C19fan]

Awww... moment of the day.

[Man50D]

They’re best of friends so long as the Leopard is well fed.

[rlmorel]

Thanks for posting...going to go back later and grab those pics.

[dead]

That cat is so going to eat that dog.

[OneWingedShark]

Maybe so. lol

[ronnyquest]

They’re friends for as long as that leopard is kept well-fed.

[HerrBlucher]

Even if it is well fed the leopard will likely attack the dog at some point. Wild cats can be fluffy and lovable when they are young but they will go wild when they become adults. Otherwise we would probably see these cats as popular a pet as dogs, at least for those with enough money to feed them. I would love to have a lion sitting on my front lawn!

[Mr Rogers]

Ever see “Born Free”?

[cubreporter]

Very sweet...truly. However, this one worries me some. Afraid for the Retreiver and dont’ want either animal hurt in any way.

[Texan Tory]

“That cat is so going to eat that dog.”

I have three golden retrievers, and I can say that although most golden retrievers have a very sweet disposition, they can and will bare their teeth in anger like other breeds. If the big cat suddenly goes for the throat, the dog won’t stand a chance, but if there is a slow escalation in rough play, the cat may be scared away when the dog starts snarling; cats are predatory, but also nervous, fearful creatures. Overall though, I’d say it’s a very bad idea to leave these two together for much longer. Sort of like people keeping chimps, which are fairly docile until they become adolescents, after which they can literally tear you apart.

[GoldenPup]

“...And the Lion shall lay down with the Lamb”. But the lamb won’t get much sleep. Same thing.

[PowderMonkey]

This may not end well. During my time in Africa, the locals had to protect their dogs against leopards, because the big cats found dog flesh irresistible and would go to great lengths to get it.

[RichInOC]

WE CAN HAS CHEEZBURGERS?

[Haiku Guy]

It’s like the Leopard
Is packing a tasty lunch
That carries itself...

[calex59]

Leopards are the most dangerous of the big wild cats(with maybe the exception of Jaguars). One night in India a male leopard killed a whole herd of Goats just to impress his mate(at least that is what they figured out). None of the Goats were eaten, just killed.

another pair of Leopards in India killed 365 humans in two years before they were finally hunted down. That's one every other day if you do the math, 3.5 per week. Leopards are bigger man eaters than either Lions or Tigers. This Leopard will most likely kill the dog if they don't separate them soon.

[Slings and Arrows]

[spetznaz]

Leopards are indeed the most dangerous member of the cat family (more than lion, tiger, and far more than jaguar). As you stated, man eating leopards have HUGE tallies even compared to the more famous man eating lions and tigers. They may not get movies made (like the one of the man eaters of Tsavo in Kenya - The Ghost and the Darkness), and apart from a few mentions by game hunters in India and Africa not as much is written about them compared to some of the tigers and lions, but in terms of sheer numbers leopards rule. Leopards, when it comes to the BIG 5 in African countries, are also the trickiest to hunt, are very intelligent, cunning even, and if you see one shoot and miss ...well, following a wounded leopard at night is the worst thing you can do (as bad as having a black mamba with you in a pit latrine). Beautiful animals .:.but hunting them is real hunting (far different and more manlythan shooting white tailed deer using a rifle with a scope ...and fool can do that).

As for dogs ....leopards LOVE dogs (and not in a good way). The first time I was told about that was as a child at my grandfather's place in a then rural part of Kenya. The lab is safe for now ...but in the wild it would have no chance.

A FReeper mentiones upthread that if the dog snarled the leopard would go away. Not necessarily. They are quite brave ...it is just that they are also quite intelligent and don't do stupid stuff. However, the dog has no chance against something as strong as a leopard, which can drag more than its body weight in prey straight up a tree. Far larger dogs than labs have been snatched by leopards in front of their owners in a flashing streak of spotted yellow, and all the dogs could do is die. Ifthis leopard ever goes rogue, the dog has less of a chance than Obama does throwing a baseball.

[TheOldLady]

After reading the dead dog comments, I think it’s too bad you can’t unping this one, Slings.

[Jonah Hex]

Ever see “Born Free”?

I remember the Tim Conway version from the old Carol Burnett show. :-)

[Slings and Arrows]

Illegitmatus non carborundum.