After losing their parents, four baby animals in Africa decided to form their own family.
In the Voi Reintegration Unit, a rehabilitation center in Kenya, a zebra, a buffalo, and two elands (antelopes), overcame loss and joined together as one family. Amie Alden of the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust told The Dodo, “Ngulia (the zebra) was a victim of the bushmeat,” meaning that her mom was probably killed for me, therefore, she was left to fend for herself.”
At first, Ngulia paired up with another zebra, but when a baby antelope arrived at the unit, everything changed. “When [Kore] first arrived, Ngulia became a bit jealous,” Alden says. “She followed the keepers around when they carried a milk bottle for Kore, who was fed every three hours, sometimes even attempting to block their entry into Kore’s stable for milk feeding!”
It was clear she was jealous of Kore, but within a few months, she chose to become her friend instead. The twosome soon became a foursome, and another orphaned eland named Tawi and a buffalo named Jamhuri joined their little orphan clan.
A very unlikely family to say the least, “Jamhuri developed a close attachment to male orphan baby eland Tawi from the outset and, in the early months, was seen suckling on Kore’s ears.”
“Ngulia has much love for the orphan baby buffalo Jamuhuri, and has become very protective and jealous over her, so much that she charges anybody approaching the baby buffalo in her presence,” Alden says.
This adorable crew rarely spends a day apart, and they walk around the uni, under the watch of keepers.
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[Featured Image Credit: David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust]
Four Orphaned Baby Animals Form Unlikely Little Family is an article from: LifeDaily