Everybody knows that dogs are social animals – they have proved to be man’s best friend for many reasons. Well, it’s not just humans; they also become friends with a cheetah.

In Turtle Back Zoo in New Jersey, visitors were shocked after spotting a Labrador in the cheetah enclosure. One of them took to Reddit to share a picture of the dog taking a nap. “Went to the zoo today, and I’m 99 percent sure that’s not a cheetah…” wrote Redditor Davidowicza on the ‘funny’ subreddit in a post that’s since gone viral. 

Bowie and Nandi

Bowie was not a stray dog or a pet going rogue – Bowie the Labrador lives at the zoo and works as a support animal for Nandi, the cheetah. Since they were both just a few weeks old, they became best friends. 

The nature of cheetahs is shy; on the other hand, dogs are more robust and outgoing. Therefore, they help them to become friendly and confident. Nandi, the cheetah, gained confidence because of Bowie’s influence and followed her best friend everywhere. 

Due to Bowie’s influence, Nandi has gained the confidence of a dog and follows her best friend everywhere. She enjoys connecting with Bowie for cuddles, wrestling, and playing with ice toys and tennis balls.

Cheetah and Labrador: An Improbable Friendship

It is surprising match-up cheetahs are usually paired with dogs, with the pups acting as surrogate siblings. 

Labradors make good contenders with their often sociable and friendly nature. Other zoos have paired them up with cheetahs to raise their confidence.

Cheetah Emmett and Labrador Cullen have been best friends at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. There’s even a program of cheetah ambassador dogs at the zoo — the first cheetah representative, Coby, died last year.

Cheetahs might be the fastest land animal, but they’re considered vulnerable. It’s calculated that fewer than 8,000 African cheetahs are left in the wild and fewer than 50 Asian cheetahs worldwide. Many zoos with cheetahs are part of breeding programs, and their dog friends play an essential role too.