A six-week-old cheetah cub named Ruuxa, who his mother rejected, has found an unlikely best friend at San Diego Zoo Safari Park—a seven-week-old Rhodesian ridgeback puppy named Raina.
The two animals were paired together by caretakers to help Ruuxa grow up with companionship, as he was born alone without siblings.
Cheetah mothers typically abandon cubs born without littermates, as their chances of survival in the wild are slim.
To give Ruuxa the best possible care, keepers decided to raise him by hand, selecting him to become an animal ambassador at the park.
Raina, the young puppy, will grow up alongside Ruuxa, becoming a lifelong companion for the cheetah.
Susie Ekard, the park’s animal training manager, explained the bond: “Because the cheetah was alone, we wanted him to have a companion right away. They enjoy playing together, and when they nap, they often snuggle for warmth and comfort.”
At the Safari Park, cheetahs chosen as ambassadors are often paired with domestic dogs early in life.
The dogs help the cheetahs stay calm and relaxed in new environments by demonstrating through their body language that there is no need to fear unfamiliar surroundings.
The park has four cheetah ambassadors, all trained to participate in the popular Cheetah Run experience. Ruuxa is well on his way to joining them, with Raina by his side.
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