The friendship between a cheetah cub and a puppy bear testament to the fact that some bonds go beyond everything and cross all barriers.
Ruuxa, a cheetah cub, and Raina the female Rhodesian ridgeback puppy of the San Diego Zoo have been BFFs for a while now. On Wednesday, Sept. 3, when 4-month old Ruuxa had to undergo surgery on his front limbs to correct abnormalities, the loyal Raina was by his side watchful and concerned.
San Diego Zoo posted a video clip which shows Raina watching the surgery and sitting next to Ruuxa post his surgery. Ruuxa had blue casts on his forelegs as Raina kept a watchful eye on her ailing friend. She was beside Ruuxa to cheer him as his sedation wear off.
"Raina appeared very concerned about Ruuxa when she saw he was sleeping and she couldn't wake him," said Susie Ekard, animal training manager at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. "She licked him and nuzzled him, and when he awoke, she lay with him and seemed very content to know her cheetah was okay."
Ruuxa, born in June this year at the Park itself, was rejected by his mother within a few days. This happens often when cubs are part of a big litter. Zookeepers thought of pairing Raina and Ruuxa as companions when the two were barely five weeks and four weeks, respectively. The two BFFs have been attached to each other since the time.
The inseparable pair can soon be back to playing with each other as Ruuxa's surgery is successful and he is expected to be back on his feet soon.
Check out Raina watching Ruuxa's surgery in the video shown.
