News

Unlikely animal friendship in Indonesia
01 March 2007

Tourists are flocking to the Taman Safari zoo in Cisarua, Indonesia to witness a heart-warming sight.

Four young animals, which would be arch-enemies in the wild, have struck up an unlikely friendship and its causing quite a stir at the zoo.

Two one-month-old Sumatran tigers named Dema and Manis have become virtually inseparable from two five-month-old orangutans named Nia and Irma.

All four animals were abandoned by their mothers at birth and appear to have found common ground as they share a room at the zoo's nursery.

Many people have paid a visit to the young quartet as they hope to catch a glimpse of them play fighting, chasing each other and cuddling up when it is time for a rest.

Workers at the zoo say that the animals have lived together for one month now and have never shown any hostility towards each other.

'This is unusual and would never happen in the wild. Like human babies, they only want to play,' said zoo keeper Sri Suwarni.

However, the blissful relationship is unlikely to last as the animals grow older and eventually they will have to be split up.

'When the time comes, they will have to be separated," added Ms Suwarni. 'It's sad, but we can't change their natural behaviour. Tigers start eating meat when they are three months old.'

© Adfero Ltd

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