the most skittish. Animal Programs Director Suzi Rapp has raised several baby cheetahs alongside puppies— most recently, a charismatic golden lab named Carlisle.
Carlisle helps the cheetahs keep their cool when Rapp takes them on the road to make TV appearances in support of animal conservation efforts. “If there is a loud noise, the cheetahs will look to Carlisle for his reaction. The dog has a ‘whatever’ attitude that the cheetahs in turn adopt,” says Rapp, who notes that the program has been so successful she wouldn’t ever consider raising a cheetah without a canine again.
“Because they were raised togeth- er, the cheetahs believe that Carlisle is one of their littermates and don’t think of him as a dog,” explains Rapp. “They cuddle, play and sleep together.” Rapp is quick to caution that an unknown
adult dog thrown in with the cheetahs wouldn’t last long, however. Tales of mismatched orphans underscore the importance of introducing different spe- cies to each other while they’re young. Baloo, the bear, Leo, the lion, and Shere Khan, the tiger, were each just two months old when they were rescued during a residential drug raid. Noah’s Ark Animal Rehabilitation Cen- ter, in Locust Grove, Georgia, took in the trio, and the “BLT” (bear, lion and tiger) became so close that the sanctu- ary spent thousands of dollars to build a special clubhouse to house them. Eight years later, the three animals—each hailing from different continents—still live like blood brothers.
If peace between traditionally antagonistic species is possible, the implications for mankind are obvious. When basic needs are met, the instinct to protect or play can trump the urge to grab, neglect or fight. We can all share and get along better when we take responsibility for creating the circum- stances to support that ideal. “I joke that we should give my book to politicians to remind them that a lot of good can come from crossing boundaries,” smiles Holland. “Kindness and companionship can mean survival for all kinds of animals; that goes for humans, too.”
April Thompson is a freelance writer in Washington, D.C. Connect at
AprilWrites.com.
natural awakenings December 2011
53
Photo: Barcroft/Frame
Photo: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Ohio
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