Dr. Mercola June 03 2008 84,790 views
Ready to be overwhelmed by cuteness? Take a look at some very unusual pairs of animals getting along just fine.A tiny little macaque nestles against a peaceful pigeon on Neilingding Island, China. The macaque was born on the island, but strayed from its mother. After being taken in by work staff in the protective station, it managed to make a most unusual new friend.
A French bulldog plays with a 2-week-old baby Bengal tiger that was rejected by its mother, at Shirotori zoo in Japan. According to the zoo, the dog has taken on the role as mother, nursing the baby tiger as if it was her own pup.
A mouse is granted a free ride by this frog in the floodwaters of a northern Indian town.
Dema, a 26-day-old male endangered Sumatran tiger cub, cuddles up to 5-month-old female orangutan Irma, at the Taman Safari Indonesia Animal Hospital in West Java, Indonesia. Both Dema and Irma were rejected by their respective mothers.
A piglet plays with a tiger cub at a park in Guangzhou, in south China. The tiger cub was abandoned by its mother and is being raised by a sow.
To see more odd couples of the animal kingdom, click on the link below.
Remember when we could enjoy these pictures for what they are? Cute? Without the discussion turning to dire warnings and criticism of the subject matter? It is sad, really.
Amen, Tom. Let's just enjoy the pictures!
They are great pictures. I'm saving them to my computer right now.
I really like the monkey and the bird.
I dont like captive animals either, but you dont know that the mother may have rejected the babies in the wild.
Usually when a mother rejects her young, there is something wrong with them. I would never condone letting an animal die without helping all we can, but I wonder if we are not raising inferior stock....The wild supports the strongest animals, cages dont.
Here go my points, but something to think about.
It would be interesting to see a study on the long-term implications of animals raised on milk from a species other than their own. It's clear that the outlook for humans consuming cow's milk is problematic, though the processing of the milk would likely be a significant factor in impacting its safety and efficacy.
Don't these pictures demonstrate that we can, indeed, all live together on this planet, in peace, love and harmony?
The mother sow does not reject the baby tiger because it is of a different species.
The frog does not laugh at the mouse's inability to survive the raging waters.
And the macaque does not scoff at the pigeon's different ways.
Why does our species persist in distaining all others?
Do we have an innate desire to destroy ourselves and our planet?
We are all in this, together. We must learn respect and admiration for our fellow creatures, great and small, on this Earth.
Before it's too late.
Unfortunately, you are preaching to the choir. People who are wise and understanding and compassionate will treat others as they would want to be treated. The ignorant don't get it and won't get it. Be thankful that you are amoung the wise. Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow. We must not judge or comdemn. As Jesus said, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." That applied then and it applies now. When I get a chance to see pictures like this, it is incredibly humbling. It is the truest definition of love and peace and hope. I know that when God's Kingdom is here, we are told that a child will play over a vipers hole without fear and lions will lay with a lamb. But don't believe me, believe your Bible. Hugs.
Ah, come on people. These pictures are exceptions. Most of the time the monkey would pick at the pigeon until it fled, the dog would get a choke hold on the tiger, the frog would jump away, etc. Hang around a farm, forest, jungle or swamp and see for yourself. It's nature. My favorite film that exemplifies this is of three pre-flight birds, in a nest, on a branch hanging over the Everglades, with aligators beneath. Two of the birds decide they no longer want to share food with the runt and while the parents are gone start pecking it until it's weakened enough to push out of the nest to the aligators that have watched and gathered below. It was part of a nature program shown on TV. Hey, it's "nature in its truly natural state". Enjoy the pictures for what they are, cute exceptions; or, as the title says, "Animal Kingdom's Odd Couples". Reality and nature; you can't truly know one without accepting the other; misunderstand one and you'll misunderstand the other.