Friend with a foe: Uncommon animal pairings

ZHUHAI, CHINA: A little macaque nestles its head on a pigeon on Neilingding Island, located among Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hongkong and Macao, south China's Guangdong Province, Sep.7, 2007. UPPA/Photoshot. All rights reserved. photoshot.com Three months ago, the macaque was born on the island but had strayed from its mother. Luckily, it was taken in by work staff in the protection center and became friends with the pigeon there. On the island, more than 2, 000 macaques live. The island covers about 554 hectares in all, which is the national grade natural reserve Ref: B473_105017_0001 Date: 07.09.2007 COMPULSORY CREDIT: CNImaging/Photoshot

38 The Pitbull, the Siamese Cat, and the Chicks (14) Helen 7134785949 Helen J Arnold <texasgirly1979@gmail.com>

14 The Goldfish and the Golden Retriever -- Bob Pennell

I'm just Kookie about you ducky! They should be predator and prey but this baby Kookaburra and tiny duckling have struck up an extraordinary friendship on the Isle of Wight, UK. In the wild, the six-week old Kookaburra, called Kookie, would not have thought twice about eating his companion for lunch. But the pair seem to have developed an exceptionally unusual bond - after both being orphaned at birth. Kookie was saved by staff at the Seaview Wildlife Encounter, near Ryde in the Isle of Wight, after they feared his parents would kill him. And the duckling was rescued from one of the park's aviaries because he was thought too small to defend himself against larger birds. Keepers took a chance and decided to see what would happen if they were put together.The duckling instantly cuddled up under Kookie's protective wing, thinking he was his mum and, amazingly, Kookie didn't seem to mind playing the caring parent. SEE OUR COPY FOR THE FULL STORY. Pictured here

UKH Mandatory Credit: Photo by Caters News Agency Ltd / Rex USA ( 448317h ) Sheep Albert with baby elephant Themba Unlikely friendship between a sheep and an orphaned baby elephant, Shamwari Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Eastern Cape, South Africa - Nov 2008 Vets at a wildlife reserve in South Africa have been taken by surprise after a baby elephant struck up an unlikely friendship with a sheep. Six-month-old baby elephant Themba was close to death after being orphaned and abandoned by his herd. Unable to care for himself or feed himself the little elephant was wasting away when observers from the Sanbona Wildlife Reserve took the difficult decision to rescue him. However, it was still touch and go whether the young elephant would pull through until Albert the sheep came to the rescue. With a companion to share things with Themba soon started to recover and the two are now firm friends who do everything together. The ultimate aim is to reintegrate Themba back into a wild herd when he is old enough.

#4159440 GEORGIA, USA: Shere Khan the tiger, Leo, the lion and Baloo, at the Noah's Ark zoo in Locust Grove, Georgia. Shere Khan the tiger, Leo, the lion and Baloo the bear are the three unlikeliest friends you could ever see. Living like brothers at the Noah's Ark zoo in Locust Grove, Georgia, the bear, lion and tiger have grown up together. Found on July 27, 2001, after police confiscated them as part of a drug bust, the three friends were just two months old. They were locked in a car, along with an African spurred tortoise - Barney, who also lives at Noah's Ark. Prior to being moved to their current habitat, they lived near the Noah's Ark Children's Care Home, which meant they were not accessible to the general public. Now, they are in display in a specially constructed habitat and they enjoy a special bond with the Hedgecoth family who own Noah's Ark. Their two carers Charles and Jama Hedgecoth are seen in the pictures with the animals. Restriction applies: USA ONLY - NO NEW YORK NEWSPAPERS

04 The Cat and the Cockatoo (51) photograper is Ann Sosbe - anipie@comcast.net

Dema, a Sumatran tiger licks Nia a baby orangutan in a nursery room at the Taman Safari zoo Wednesday Feb. 28, 2007, in Bogor, Indonesia. The tiger and orangutan baby, which would never be together in the wild, have become inseparable playmates after they were abandoned by their mothers.(AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)