Interspecies friendship raises intriguing questions about animal communication, such as how do different species learn to read one another’s signals and become friends? After all, many examples of friendships that cross the species divide involve animals with very different behaviors that arose from adaptations to diverse habitats.
Though interspecies friendship occasionally happens in the wild, it seems to be far more common when species are raised together in captivity. When housed together—whether in farms, sanctuaries, zoos, aquaria, or our homes—animals belonging to different species sometimes develop a common language that they use to establish the rules of their interactions, such as how to play together, when to give give each other space, and when it’s okay to snuggle. And then friendships develop.
Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary—an educational organization that provides care and rehabilitation for exotic animals, farm animals, and wildlife—often sees such friendships develop.
One of their more famous interspecies friendships was comprised of three large male predators—a bear named Baloo, a lion named Leo, and a tiger named Shere Khan—known as the “BLT” trio. All three animals had been kept in horrific conditions in the basement of a private home and were discovered during a police drug raid. They arrived at the sanctuary as young animals and were housed together. The BLT trio grew up as inseparable best friends, playing together, napping side by side, and grooming one another.
Sadly, Leo passed away in 2016. Despite the loss of the deep bond they shared with their lion “brother,” Baloo the bear and Shere Khan the tiger have slowly adjusted to life without Leo.
With over 1,500 animals to care for, Noah’s Ark veterinary and food costs run high. It costs approximately $33,000 per month to feed and care for the animals at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary. Please consider visiting their website and finding out how you can help.