At the Cincinnati Zoo, solo cheetah cubs are paired with canine playmates. That’s how 13-week-old Kris met 5-month-old Remus, a local shelter dog.
Linda Castaneda, Cincinnati Zoo lead trainer: “So, we pair all of our solo cheetah cubs with dogs. We want them to be able to run and play and practice all the necessary behavior that’s important to every young animal. So, humans love to play. Gorillas love to play. Cheetahs love to play but we don’t want her to do it with us. So, we want her to see us as the thing that keeps her safe; providers of food but not as playmates. And so, she sees Remus as her playmate.” – Associated Press
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