A recent book from National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer S. Holland examines some of the most unlikely, and heartwarming, friendships in the animal kingdom.

"Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom," features images of friendships between animals as disparate as goats and hippos, monkeys and doves and even lizards and cats.

They may be a little unusual, but interspecific friendships occur more often than you might expect.

Written by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, Unlikely Friendships documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways. A cat and a bird. A mare and a fawn. An elephant and a sheep. A snake and a hamster. The well-documented stories of Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten; and the hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. And almost inexplicable stories of predators befriending prey—an Indian leopard slips into a village every night to sleep with a calf. A lionness mothers a baby oryx.


It is exactly like Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . ”

Ms. Holland narrates the details and arc of each story, and also offers insights into why—how the young leopard, probably motherless, sought maternal comfort with the calf, and how a baby oryx inspired the same mothering instinct in the lionness. Or, in the story of Kizzy, a nervous retired Greyhound, and Murphy, a red tabby, how cats and dogs actually understand each other’s body language. With Murphy’s friendship and support, Kizzy recovered from life as a racing dog and became a confident, loyal family pet.


These are the most amazing friendships between species, collected from around the world and documented in a selection of full-color candid photographs.

Check out some of the most unlikely animal friendships below, ranging from the adorable to the bizarre. To see more unlikely animal buddies.

You Can Purchase the Book Here Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom










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