Suriya the orangutan with his BFF, Roscoe, a hound. Photo: National Geographic
There's an orangutan whose best friend is a hound dog; a cat whose playmate is a crow; an elephant whose constant companion is a Chow-mix dog; a baby hippo who pursues a friendship with a 130 year-old tortoise; a lioness who bonds with baby antelope; and the story of Christian, a lion cub purchased at Harrod's Department Store in 1969, who remembers his first owners a year after returning to the wild.
You may have seen them on Youtube, but now in "Unlikely Animal Friends," the National Geographic channel explores these six unusual animal bonds in depth with extensive footage, interviews with the animals' owners and commentary by experts.
Perplexing as the unlikely friendships are, they illustrate the "ability of animals to feel complex emotions," says one expert on the show. Love and compassion, it seems, are not solely the domain of humans: witness other inter-species videos such as the fawn who bathes a cat and the dog who befriends a duck.
The one-hour program, "Unlikely Animal Friends," premieres this Saturday, September 26 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the National Geographic channel.
The members of Rescue Ink. Photo: National Geographic channel
There are animal rescue groups, and then there is Rescue Ink: a group of men from disparate backgrounds who share a love of elaborate tattoos, loud motorcycles and animals. They have big muscles, but even bigger hearts; their mission is to rescue as many abused and neglected animals as possible.
The men bonded in 2007 over a local Long Island, New York story about a pit bull named Maximus who was tied to a tree, doused with gasoline and set on fire. Maximus died, but Rescue Ink was born.
"We want [animal abusers] to know that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated anymore," one of the group's leaders, Joseph "Joe" Panzarella, tells Paw Nation, his dark eyes intense. (That's Joe in the photo, above, foreground, left side.)
In addition to Joe, there's Anthony "Big Ant" Rossano, Angel Nieves, Johnny O, George "G" Perry, Eric Olsen, and Nicholas Richard "Batso" Maccharoli Sr., who, at 76, is the most senior of the group. Batso and Angel are retired, but the rest have days jobs -- working in the mortgage industry, landscaping, security, or customizing cars and motorcycles. Still, they carry out their rescue missions 24 hours a day, seven days a week, investigating animal cruelty calls they get from all over the New York metropolitan area.
Mary Felto, who works in Rescue Ink's home office, tells Paw Nation that she fields up to 150 - 200 calls and emails per day.
An 800 pound grizzly bear named Brutus served as best man in naturalist Casey Anderson's 2008 wedding to actress Missi Pyle. But this was not a stunt for pun's sake; Anderson calls Brutus his best friend, even telling Good Morning America, "He gives me unconditional love."
Expedition Grizzly, a new documentary airingon National Geographic on Sunday, May 3rd at 9pm EST, captures Anderson living among the bears of YellowstoneNational Park, charting their lives and man's impact on their environment.
Anderson first befriended the bear in 2002 when young Brutus' wildlife park became overpopulated. Before the cub had to face a lose-lose fate of captivity or death, Anderson adopted him and opened a sanctuary so Brutus could "act like a real bear."
Of course, "real bears" don't usually eat at kitchen tables and swim in lap pools. But according to Anderson, they do experience human-level emotions, sometimes even shedding tears. Anderson's relationship with his furry surrogate son spawned his mission to dispel false "man eater" stereotypes about Grizzlies.
Miniature Poodle Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.
David McKelvey/http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgmckelvey/3748491903/
Miniature Dogs
Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Daschund, only 11 pounds or under, is not a separate classification of the Daschund -- it's just a smaller version of the Standard. The miniature dog, with its long bodies and strong sense of smell, are both hunters and lapdogs, according to the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Poodle Miniature Poodles, like all Poodles, are excellent swimmers who originated as a water retrievers. All Poodles, Standard, Miniature and Toy are actually one breed, just different sizes. Miniature Poodles, who can be white, black, apricot or gray, are usually 15 inches or under, according to the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature Schnauzer is of German descent and was originally bred to be a small farm dog. The most popular of the three Schnauzer breeds, the Miniature Schnauzer is a attentive, lively and a favorite among celebrities like Mary Tyler Moore and Bill Cosby. The strongly built miniature dog is between 12 to 14 inches, according to the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Bull Terrier
Just like the playful Bull Terrier, the Miniature Bull Terrier, who originated in England, has a similar personality. Don't let its size fool you – the Miniature Bull Terrier is strong, energetic and audacious. Miniature Bull Terriers are between 10 to 15 inches and can be solid white or colored, according to the American Kennel Club.
Miniature American Eskimo Dog
The American Eskimo Dog is one of three separate categories of the American Eskimo Dog. Between 12 to 15 inches, the bright white dog is loving, protecting and sociable. Now a great companion dog, the miniature dog was once a circus dog, according to the American Kennel Club.
Miniature Pinscher
Also known as the "Min Pin," the Miniature Pinscher is a German Breed whose ancestry includes the Daschund, Italian Greyhound and the shorthaired German Pinscher. The quick, curious dog is the perfect apartment dog. Despite its small size, the compact pooch makes a wonderful watchdog. The spirited miniature dog, about 10 inches to 12 1/2 inches, can be red, black, or chocolate with tan, according to the American Kennel Club.
"Hachi: A Dog's Tale" DVD Giveaway
