There are several iconic animal duos in pop culture, ranging from Tom and Jerry to Chip and Dale and even Snoopy and Woodstock.
But the real-life story of Rosie and Ziggy – a cheetah cub and labrador cross kelpie who forged an unbreakable bond at Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo – has captured the world’s attention.
And as cute as it is to see the pair playing with each other, the reason zoo staff decided to pair them is an important one.
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Ziggy and Rosie are best mates. (Supplied)
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“The little cheetah cub was so critically unwell at the beginning and spent so many months in our intensive care unit, it was a bit touch and go,” zookeeper Jordan Michelmore told Today.
“We were a bit guarded about her, but to see her now at five-months-old, thriving and with her little her little puppy companion Ziggy it has just been the best.”
Because Rosie didn’t have any sibling cubs, the zoo introduced her to Ziggy as a sort of brother and companion to help her get stronger.
They will stay together over the next year as brother and sister. (Supplied)
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“Because they have grown up together and they’ve spent so much time together right from the beginning, they were about two-months-old when we put them in together, they’re best friends,” Jordan said.
“So we’ll probably keep them together for about a year to 18 months, because that’s typically the age that cheetah siblings will spend together.”
Jordan said female cheetah cubs went off and bacome solitary after about 18 months, to prepare for breeding when they get older.
And that will likely be the time Ziggy is adopted by a member of the zoo community.
“It will be a little bittersweet when it does come time to that, but for now, they’re loving life and they’re little besties and it’s so beautiful to watch them,” Jordan said.
Hear the full interview in the video above