A couple of additions, at the bottom of the blog, thanks to National Geographic.
While ‘cross-species’ animal friendships are not usual, here are a few, mainly here in Africa, that are pretty unique:
Goats are very friendly animals, whom I have found to befriend a number of other breeds. Here are a few:
Rhadigonde the buck and Spock the dog were great friends, and loved to play-butt
When Rhadigonde grew into a full-sized buck, he was just too much for Spock to take on. He joined our breeding herd.
Sheep will also take on babies of another breed - this is in South Africa
This foal has a Boer goat as a mother substitute - actually, as the foal grew, he had several Boer-moms. South Africa
Ana the donkey loved 'her' goats and was a great goat-guard. Her best friend was an elderly Alpine doe who - when she died - drove Ana into a long period of grief, calling for her every morning.
Ana had her own little flock of birds - called in Egypt 'Sadiq al-Falahiin' (the farmers' friends) these birds are bug-chasers around cattle, oxen, horses, etc.
- This is the dog of an e-friend, who adopted an orphan kitten. This was several years ago, and I have lost her contact info!
Carrying went on quite a bit. Can't remember what happened at feeding time 
- I put this picture in a former blog last year; it’s worth another look. Source: Princeton Environmental Institute
Perhaps the most unusual - a hippo orphan adopted by a 100-year-old tortoise in Kenya
Nap - time
I wish that hippos were this peaceful when they grew up!
Cat and Iguana as friends. Seems highly unlikely, but.... Source: National Geographic
A leopard befriends a cow. Next lunch, or... Source> National Geographic
Book just out> Christine Dell'Amore of National Geographic News August 18, 2011This looks more like an opportunist arrangement!Who is benefitting?
Related articles
- 287 rhinos killed by poachers in South Africa this year, World Wildlife Fund says (news.blogs.cnn.com)
- What continent has the most species of animals on it? (greenanswers.com)
this collection is classic, I like it, thanks for sharing.
Thanks, Hussain!
Oh my goodness, that last picture is too much! So sweet.
Rachel – I’m trying to find out what has been happening to the happy pair – the hippo was orphaned during the tsumani a few years ago, being washed down a river to the Indian Ocean (in Kenya).