a 45-year-old Sumatran oranguatan at Zoo World in Panama City Beach, FL, has struck up an unlikely friendship with a tabby cat after being introduced to each other last last year by a zoo employee. Tondalayo had been depressed after losing her mate two years ago, and the zoo didn't know what to do.
When the sweet-natured orange cat wandered into Willard's life, the solution became clear.I didn't really post this to get into the zoo debate again and all that (or even the fact that orangutan's are an endangered species), but rather because I have a soft-spot for cross-species friendships. It helps point out how arbitrary some of our lines are between various animal species.
"It's an unbelievable match," Willard said. "This has worked out a lot better than I expected it to. She's got brighter eyes now. He's brought a lot of light to her."
Zookeepers named the cat, T.K. - short for "Tondalayo's Kitty."
They play together, cuddle and sleep together each night. They have been together constantly for more than a month.
"He's perked up Tonda more than anything," Willard said.
Categories: orangutan | endangered species
