An unusual friendship has blossomed between Bubbles, an orphaned elephant, and Bella, a Labrador, as they enjoy playing catch together.

In a series of heartwarming pictures, Bubbles uses her trunk to pick up a ball, teasing Bella, who is only as tall as the elephant’s knee.

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 1 — Bubbles, a 32-year-old African elephant, play in the river with his best friend Bella, a 3-year-old labrador, in Myrtle Beach Safari, South Carolina. Source: Barry Bland

Bubbles dive into a pool, but that doesn’t stop Bella from trying to retrieve the ball by climbing onto her giant friend’s back.

The playful duo continues their game, with Bella leaping off Bubbles to catch the ball and swimming away, with Bubbles following closely behind.

Bhagavan Antle, director of the California wildlife park where the two friends reside, says, “They just love to romp around together.” The park is part of The Rare Species Fund, a wildlife conservation effort in Southern California.

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 2 — Bella and Bubbles enjoy a game of catch in the water reserve at Myrtle Beach Safari, which is home to other species of endangered animals. Source: Barry Bland

Bubbles were discovered as a baby by Antle, weighing 340 lbs and standing 42 inches tall. She was described as “small and helpless for an elephant” on her Facebook page after her parents were killed for their tusks during a 20-year slaughter that concluded with the 1989 ban on ivory imports.

Bubbles was among the few orphaned elephants flown to the US, where a limited number of facilities were prepared to care for them. Many others were killed or abandoned due to inadequate housing and care in Africa.

Antle recalls falling in love with Bubbles at first sight and carefully considering the long-term commitment of adopting an elephant, which can live for 60 to 100 years.

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 3 — Launchpad: Bella springs off Bubbles’ trunk to dive into the water to catch the ball at The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species in South Carolina. Source: Barry Bland

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 4 — Bubbles, a rescued orphan elephant, picks up a ball with her trunk to tease Bella the labrador, who dives off her back into the water as part of their favorite game. Source: Barry Bland

Now 30 years old, over 9 feet tall, and weighing around four tons, Bubbles has even appeared in Ace Ventura II, Malaika, and a Janet Jackson music video.

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 5 — The pair cool down in the waters at Myrtle Beach Safari, where Bubbles was taken as a baby after being flown to the US from Africa. Source: Barry Bland

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 6 — Bubbles are now over 9ft and weigh around 4 tons after being taken to the center as a baby weighing just 340 lbs and measuring 42in. Source: Barry Bland

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 7 — Source: Barry Bland

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 8 — Bubbles teased Bella with the ball before the pair broke from their tiring game. The unlikely friends are among various endangered species at The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (T.I.G.E.R.S) in South Carolina. Source: Barry Bland

The Orphaned Elephant Struggled To Make Friends Until He Met A Playful Labrador 9 — Bubbles were among the few orphaned elephants that were flown to the US from Africa, where a handful of facilities awaited their arrival after their parents had been killed for tusks. Source: Barry Bland

Canidae Pet Food Reviews: An In-Depth Look

Choosing the right pet food is crucial for the health and well-being of our furry friends. In this blog post, we'll delve deep into Canidae pet food, a popular choice among pet owners, and provide an in-depth review based on various sources.

Canidae is a well-known brand in the pet food industry, offering a range of products designed to cater to pets of all ages, breeds, and sizes.

Product Range:

Canidae All-Life Stages (Dry): This vet-formulated product suits dogs of all ages, breeds, and sizes. It's available in both dry and wet formulas.
Canidae Pure: A limited-ingredient diet crafted for dogs with food sensitivities. Each recipe typically includes 7 to 10 ingredients.

Key Ingredients

The Canidae All Life Stages Multi Protein Formula, which represents the brand's product line, contains ingredients like chicken meal, turkey meal, brown rice, peas, oatmeal, and barley. Chicken meal, the primary ingredient, is a meat concentrate with nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.

Recalls and Safety

Canidae has had recalls in the past. It's essential to stay updated with the brand's recall history to ensure your pet's safety.

Customer Reviews

The Canidae Dog Food product line has earned an overall rating of 4.5 stars from The Dog Food Advisor. The Canidae All Life Stages Dog Food has received the Advisor's second-highest tier rating of 4.5 stars.

Pros and Cons:

Pros: High protein content, suitable for all life stages, contains beneficial ingredients like flaxseed and taurine.
Cons: It contains some controversial ingredients, and not all minerals are chelated, which might affect absorption.

Conclusion

Canidae All Life Stages is a grain-inclusive dry dog food that uses a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein. With an above-average protein content and a profile suggesting a significant amount of meat, it comes highly recommended for pet owners.