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Well, reader, it's been nice knowing you. See you later, because you're about to die of cute overload.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay's famous fuzzy baby cheetah has a new best friend — a 16-week-old female yellow Labrador puppy. The public now has a chance to name both adorable animals ("Snuggle Muffin" is out of the question, though).
The cheetah came to Tampa from the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens after its mother wasn't able to care for it. It was the only surviving cat from a litter of four. The staff at Busch Gardens has been feeding the 8-week-old cub around the clock. There are only about 12,400 cheetahs left in the wild.
Until now, its best friend was a stuffed cat. But staring into plastic eyes can get old, right?
So the zoo brought in the puppy from a shelter in Orlando, part of the company's SeaWorld Cares adoption program. It's the first combination of its kind for the park, but a canine-cat pairing is not uncommon in zoological settings.
Male cheetahs live in groups and bond with other creatures for life. This cheetah and puppy will likely go everywhere together, paw-in-paw, into the sunset. When it comes to the dog's safety, park spokeswoman Jill Revelle said the dog and cheetah will be their own social group released into the yard at certain times. The dog won't be living with 14 cheetahs in a pit. Any animals can fight, but these guys are being introduced young so their bond will be strong.
Beginning Saturday, the cub and puppy will move to Jambo Junction in the Nairobi area of Busch Gardens. Guests will be able to meet them both at certain times of the day. And starting today, you can go to the Busch Gardens Facebook page and vote for your favorite name.
Potential cheetah names include Kasi (One with speed), Matuko (Grace), Ravanta (Breaker of Speed) and Umeme (Lightning). Puppy names include Njano (Yellow), Tiifu (Loyal), Thabo (Joy) and Mtani (Close friend).
The poll closes at noon Monday, and the names will be announced that afternoon.
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