Fawn and Bobcat: An Odd Couple's Amazing Relationship
Most passionate cat lovers will love this touching account about a friendship that developed between a very unlikely pair of baby animals that connected with each other out of necessity in their attempt to handle and survive the devastating destruction of their home territories.
The moment I saw this heart-touching photograph that I found the other day, which has widely been circulating around the Internet, my first reaction was to marvel at how deeply ingrained nurturing instincts must exist for such a deep bond to develop between two species, who under other circumstances would never connect in friendship. In fact, we can learn a great deal about compassion and unconditional love from this compelling story.
Two weeks ago, a very unlikely pair of baby animals became best friends. The Jesuita Fire that raged in Santa Barbara, California created the situation in which these frightened animals formed their very unique connection, shortly after they were rescued near Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's ranch. The three week-old bobcat kitten found in Carpenteria was close to death from dehydration, and the baby fawn, only three days old, rescued from the fire, found one another and snuggled closely together for several hours, under the desk in the Santa Barbara County Dispatch office. I can only speculate about how the rescue personnel reacted to this "odd couple" connection, as somebody took the time to snap their photograph and was therefore able to preserve this rather amazing demonstration of affection and emotion.
According to Santa Barbara rescue personnel, due to their stringent regulations, separate species are never housed together. But due to the chaos which the fires created, and an overwhelming number of animals requiring rescue, there was hardly a choice about where to situate all of them. After running out of crates which were large enough to could temporarily house the baby fawn, the kitten immediately ran toward the fawn and "love at first sight" prevailed; instantly bonding the pair.
I am still deeply moved each time I see the photograph, and wonder if their budding friendship would continue if they had been permitted to remain together.
What do you think? Leave a comment and share your thoughts.
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Comments (15)
Patricia Gabel October 9, 2009 2:02 PM
Awwww, very cute... Very good to take care of them as babies animals as safety "home" with people who keep them. God Blesses you! I love that picture very cute!
Crystal October 9, 2009 2:06 PM
I have heard of predator prey situations in which they stay friends even though one would naturally eat the other. One even being a snake that refused to eat one specific mouse but if you put a different one in he would eat that one.
NiHaoElla October 9, 2009 2:46 PM
I'm confused-- are they still together?
Amy October 9, 2009 2:49 PM
You don't have to have a "big" heart to see how species can get along. This type of event keeps hope alive for all. Human and animals alike.
Vicki October 9, 2009 3:03 PM
I wonder why they separated them if they knew what great friends they had become. Such a beautiful picture.
Virgie October 9, 2009 3:11 PM
Just beautiful!
Katie October 9, 2009 3:17 PM
this is one of the cutest pictures ever!
Lynne Melby October 9, 2009 3:30 PM
Priceless..................
fran October 9, 2009 3:35 PM
See, we CAN all just get along!
Laura October 9, 2009 3:38 PM
Awwww, thanks for giving me an excuse to look at this beautiful picture again. I think it would be impossible for someone to look at this picture and not smile and say awww..
Rani October 9, 2009 5:35 PM
What a touching story...
there are two additional photos at
http://ronburns.blogspot.com/2009/09/fawn-and-bobcat-are-best-friends.html
Iniki October 9, 2009 5:38 PM
Oh I think the companions could possibly continue. I do know that when our goat kids and lambs are born and the mothers refuse them the cat immediately accept them. They wash them clean and play and sleep together. Thanks for a great picture and story.
jmuhj October 9, 2009 6:45 PM
Bonded from such a young age, yes, there is every possibility that these two will remain so for life. I pray they are allowed to stay together in a loving, forever home!
For another perspective on "odd couple" pairings, check out "THE HEART OF A LIONESS" on Animal Planet, repeated from time to time (check the site for possible airtimes). It is the story of a lioness and an antelope, a very magical story.
Reno October 9, 2009 8:41 PM
Beautiful!!
Donna October 11, 2009 9:35 AM
Totally priceless....and if left together I think there's a good chance they'll stay friends for life...cats and dogs, the gorilla that had a kitten...yadda yadda. If only people could be so accomodating!
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