What does your best friend look like? Perhaps you count your dog or cat among your best friends. Animals are big hearted creatures that make the most loyal friends. Not only do animals get along with us 2-legged humans, but they have a knack for getting along with just about anyone, or rather any species.

They say opposites attract, and that saying couldn’t be any more true when it comes to some of the most unusual animal friendships. Even natural predators can come together, realizing that together things are so much better!

These 15 unusual animal friendships are so adorable you won’t believe your eyes!

1. Bubbles The Elephant & Bella The Dog

Bubbles is an African elephant that was rescued from poachers and now lives at Myrtle Beach Safari in South Carolina. When Bubbles first arrived she was only 300 pounds, she has since ballooned to 9,000 pounds. Regardless of her size, she likes to keep her friends on the lighter side. It wasn’t until a river was added to Bubble’s home that she met a black Labrador named Bella. The two became fast friends, now they are inseparable. They even play fetch together, with Bubbles throwing and Bella catching–as most dogs LOVE to do. My dogs are jelouse, they want an elephant friend now.

2. Torque the Dog and Shrek the Owl

You might think a dog would hurt a bird, chase it around, maybe gnaw on it with their sharp teeth. Think again, Torque was only 6 months old when he became buddies with Shrek, ever since they go together like biscuits and gravy.

3. Tinni the Dog & Sniffer the Wild Fox

They hang out so much they almost look alike, but don’t get confused, the larger dog (Tinni) is domestic, while the smaller fox (Sniffer) is a wild fox. Tinni belongs to Torgeir Berge, he says the pair met outside in the Norway forests near their home. When the dynamic duo sneaks off to play, Torgeir does what he can to keep up and snap photos!

4. Fred the Dog and Dennis the Duckling

This labrador is gentle enough to make best friends with a duckling! After a fox (thanks for nothing Sniffer!) ate Dennis’s mommy he was a hopeless and helpless little chick. Jeremy, the human who owns Fred, found Dennis and rescued him, he had no idea that his dog would end up being the biggest help of all. Since Dennis’s rescue, Fred has taken the chick under his wing, like his very own. How quacking cute!

5. Milo the Dog and Bonedigger the Lion

Clearly lions are not ferocious meat-eaters, after all this 500 pound beautiful beast is best friends with 3 tiny dachshunds! Namely one named Bonedigger, after the lion was diagnosed with a metabolic disease that partially disabled him, Bonedigger took the lion under his tiny tail. 5-years later the two still enjoy spending quality time together.

7. Wilma the Ostrich and Bea the Giraffe

These two share smooches, sunsets, and best of all, friendship. They also share a 65-acre enclosure at Busch Gardens (USA), meaning they don’t have to hang out, but they do so anyway.

8. A Lion, A Tiger, And A Bear–OH MY!

Shere Khan is a tiger, Baloo is a bear, and Leo is a lion–what do they all have in common? Friendship! A drug dealer once owned the trio and abused them terribly, together they made it out alive and today they live much happier lives at Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary. The struggles they endured together make their bond that much stronger.

9. Suryia the Orangutan and Roscoe the Dog

One day Roscoe the dog followed Suryia back to her home at a sanctuary for endangered animals in the US. With no place else to go, the animal sanctuary took in a not-s0-extinct, but oh-so-loveable dog. Ever since the two have remained the best of friends.

10. Candy The Dog & Mani The Wild Boar Piglet

After the Dahlhaus family rescued Manni, the wild boar piglet, he met Candy the Jack Russell. It was love at first squeal!

11. Tiger Cubs & Anjana the Chimpanzee

A hurricane caused these 2 tiger cubs to become separated from their mother. After being adopted by a U.S. animal reserve, Anjana the Chimpanzee took the little cubs in as her own.

12. Wild Rabbit & Deer

These two were spotted by wildlife photographer Tanja Askani, the reason surrounding their unique friendship remains a mystery.

13. Pippin the Deer and Kate the Dog

Kate and Pippin first became friends when Pippin was only a baby deer. She has since grown up and even has her own family in the forest, but she still comes back to visit Kate regularly!

14. Kasi the Cheetah & Mtani the Dog

These two have been pals since they were tiny! Today Kasi is often preoccupied by the lady cheetahs nearby, but he still makes time for his old dog Mtani the labrador.

15. Cat and Fox

These two were spotted by a fisherman in Turkey, just on the shore of Lake Van. While pictures were snapped, and some stares exchanged, no introductions or explantations were provided for the unique duo.



Image Credits: Barry Bland, Torgeir Berge, Solent News and Photos, SWNS, Barcroft USA, PA, Barcroft Media, spiegel.de, Tanja Askani, Isobel Springett, Busch Gardens Tampa, imgur,