Aging gorilla stifles loneliness with zoo's gift of a pet bunny named 'Panda'
Posted on 03/12/2012 10:57:55 AM PDT by JoeProBono
ERIE, Pa., -- Zookeepers in Erie, Pa., say their lonely lowland gorilla has taken to her new pet bunny quickly.
"Right off the bat, they hit it off," Erie Zoo Director Cindy Kreider said about Samantha, a 47-year-old gorilla who now has a long-eared pal named Panda to keep her company.
Panda was gradually introduced to Samantha's world as a companion after her old buddy Rudy died in 2005. Keepers figured Samantha was too old and fragile to deal with another gorilla, but a rabbit wouldn't cause any harm and would break the ape's solitude.
"To have something sharing their space that they can observe and interact with is always going to be beneficial," Kreider said.
The Erie (Pa.) Times-News said Sunday that Panda and Samantha have become fast friends. Samantha has been gentle and friendly toward Panda and even shares food and occasionally scratches its chin.
Zoo visitors have been delighted with the two roommates, especially due to the fact that Samantha has a buddy to hang out with.
Aging gorilla stifles loneliness with zoo's gift of a pet bunny named 'Panda'
Wow, that’s sora eriee...
Why am i thinking “Of Mice and Ape Men” ?
He’s got huge, sharp... er... He can leap about. Look at the bones!
“sorta”, darn it, “sorta”.
Well, you mis-spelled “eerie”, too. I just chalked it up to DST. It’s evil. :)
If I was that bunny I wouldn’t be buying any green bananas . . .
You think it’s eerie; I think it’s heart warming.
Can’t we all get along?
Old Warner Brother’s cartoon - was a satire on the old news real features in the theater. One segment had a heart warming story of a zoo lion who had adopted a mouse as a pet. Showed the lion petting and loving the mouse. At the end of the segment the mouse looks at the camera and in a huge voice yells GET ME OUTTA HERE!!.
Thank you for a heart touching post, and for the great graphics.
Wishing for a long and warm friendship for Samantha and Panda.
May God bless.
Tatt
Nice post. Thanks!
Agreed. Truly heartwarming.
Thank you! I love that, and even have it on my screen saver carousel :)
I have this one as well but it doesn’t have quite the same awwww factor ; ) http://imgfave.com/search/mad%20chick
Thank you Lord, for blessing our lives with animals.
Tatt
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