A cheetah cub named Rozi and a puppy named Ziggy are capturing attention online for their adorable, unlikely friendship at an Australian zoo.
Rozi was born at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo in Dubbo, Australia, in February via an emergency cesarean section when her mother Siri went into early labor. Siri recovered but was unable to produce milk for Rozi. After her birth, Rozi went through months of intensive care and was not able to reunite with her mother, so she was hand-raised.
Since she had no cheetah littermates to grow up with, zookeepers introduced her to Ziggy, a Labrador, kelpie, and collie mix puppy, when they were both just over two months old. The two quickly bonded and formed a beautiful, close friendship.
“Rozi doesn’t have any cheetah siblings, and cheetah cubs typically play together, chase, pounce, groom, and stalk each other. All of these behaviors are important milestones for a growing cheetah cub to learn,” says Jordan Michelmore, a cheetah keeper at the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. This companionship is vital for Rozi’s growth as she matures.
Rozi and Ziggy are expected to stay together for about 12 to 18 months. This period matches the time cheetah cubs usually spend with their siblings before they mature and have their own litters, Michelmore explains. After their time together, Ziggy will be trained for life outside his role as a cheetah companion pup and will be adopted by a member of the zookeeping team.
Cheetahs are considered vulnerable in the wild, with fewer than 7,000 mature individuals remaining, according to the Taronga Western Plains Zoo. Every birth counts for the global population, so programs like Ziggy’s companionship play a key role in helping cheetahs survive.