Was It Truth?
He couldn't help the shaking that took over his body. The animal had made his way into the pen with the cow he held dear to his heart. He needed to see it for himself, so he slowly crept around the corner, but he had no idea what he was about to see.
He had spent his whole life living on a farm and learned a lot from his father. Some of the advice he had received from him was that predators were dangerous and that he should do anything possible to scare them off. But what he saw then made him wonder if what he had been told was true.
A Simple Farmer Lifestyle
Abraham Amel lived a life like any other farmer. Once his father retired, he helped his father by taking over the farm. His father had shown him what was needed, so he had no problem ensuring the cattle were looked after, the crops were tended to, and there were no hiccups.
He was proud to own the farm, especially after how well his father had looked after it. He knew that he had to keep up with the standards his father had set before him. He thought his father had prepared him for everything, but one day would prove him wrong.
Family Legacy
Abraham was excellent at raising cattle and did his best to continue the family legacy. Everyone knew that his father had bred robust and reliable cattle, and he wasn't going to let his father down. He worked well with the cattle. But one cow, in particular, stood out for him.
He had named her Abiba, and he was proud of her. He chose the name because it had a special meaning: beloved. She was kept separate from the other cows as he held her in a different pen.
Forming A Bond
Abiba didn't have the easiest beginning being born the smallest in her litter. Her mother had rejected her once she noticed, and Abraham had to nurse her so that she survived. He hated to see her hurting.
Her weakened state improved with Abraham's help. His determination to make sure she survived led to him forming a strong bond with the calf. He grew to love her and vowed that he would never sell her. However, there was something else he had to worry about.
Something Was Different
Abraham woke up every morning to make his rounds to feed the livestock. When he got to Abiba's pen, he found something strange. He wondered what had happened the night before for her pen to look so different from how he had left it.
He was surprised to find the pen door was busted open. His heart hammered in his chest as he rushed to check if his precious Abiba was okay. But he never could have expected to find what he did.
Strange Circumstances
When he looked around the pen, he realized that the straw was not in the same place as before. What was even more puzzling was the scratches on the wood. He looked at Abiba, who was blissfully lying in her pen. He was startled as he took a closer look at the markings in the wood.
He grew worried when he realized the markings seemed to be made by a predator. He was relieved that his cow was okay but wasted no time reinforcing her pen. Why would a predator break into her pen but do no harm to her? It was a puzzling thought, but he ensured that nothing would get inside her pen again.
Another Day Of Repairs
Abraham worked hard during the day but went to bed with a smile. But his smile vanished when he went to Abiba's pen the following day. He had worked tirelessly to secure her pen, all for it to be broken open again.
Again, he rushed to see if the cow was alright, and she was. His mind was racing, and he tried to figure out who or what could have done this. He got to work fixing the pen again but added something extra. He needed answers and decided to install a camera.
A Shadowy Figure
The next morning, Abraham went to inspect the pen. His cow was perfectly happy, but the fence had been broken again. He wasn't as surprised as the day before and decided to check the camera footage. He had no idea what he was about to see.
He sat down to see what the camera had caught. He wasn't sure what to think at first. The footage showed a shadowy figure breaking into Abiba’s pen without trouble before slinking over to the cow. Abraham wasn't ready for what he saw next.
Too Content
Abraham wasn't expecting to see the animal crawl over to his cow and let next to her. A lump filled Abraham's throat because of what he saw next. The strange animal made no move to hurt Abiba but snuggled up to her instead.
He noticed how comfortable Abiba seemed to be with the new company. She was too content not to know who was by her side, so they must be friends. Abraham grew more confused as he watched the dangerous animal he had never seen on his farm before.
What To Do?
Abraham was stumped by what he saw. He considered calling the appropriate services to come and help but changed his mind. The animal seemed peaceful, and he didn’t want to do anything to hurt it.
So what else could he do? He took time to think and settled on one of the craziest ideas he had ever thought of. But it was something he knew he had to do.
Needed Physical Evidence
Even though he had video evidence, his curiosity compelled him to take a closer look. He mentally prepared himself to do the unthinkable - to catch the animal when it was still there in the pen.
He knew it left at around 4 in the morning, an hour before he normally woke up. He decided to have an early night and try to catch it in the act. But as he approached the pen, he felt his nerves get the best of him.
The Animal
He felt his hands shake as he slowly crept around the corner. He knew that the animal was in the pen with his beloved cow. He would finally see it with his own eyes. But he wasn’t ready for what he would see.
After being a farmer his whole life, he was taught by his father to scare off predators and that they were dangerous. But looking at the animal in front of him with his cow made him question everything.
Protecting
The animal that broke into his pen every night was a leopard. He was sure now that he saw it with his own two eyes. But there was something that the cameras didn’t quite capture - affection.
He could tell that the leopard was looking after the cow, making sure it was alright and checking in on it every night. Was it possible it could tell she was weak and needed protection?
Confusion
Abraham was somehow more confused than he had been before. It was clear that the leopard didn’t mean any harm, but it went against its nature to look after his cow. He knew he’d have to make some changes.
He decided rather than fight it. He could let things play out. It was clear there was no threat from the leopard, and to be honest. It would help scare off wolves and wild dogs.
Part Of The Family
Abraham decided to induct the leopard as part of his strange animal family. His father would have hated the idea of there being a predator on the farm, but old traditions are meant to be replaced with new ones sometimes.
The leopard stuck around and would go visit its friend every night like clockwork. He knew he no longer had to worry about his cow and especially about predators.
A New Tradition
Over the course of the next few months, the leopard started getting more comfortable with Abraham and started sleeping on the property. It was almost like he had become another member of his cattle.
He decided to help it feel appreciated and started leaving meat out for it to eat. And right then, he promised himself something.
A Promise
He knew that his farm was a little unorthodox, but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He knew he’d teach his son one day to run the farm just as his father did with him.
The leopard and the cow’s friendship might seem unusual; after all, they’re natural enemies. However, the friendship between animals of different species, even apparently irreconcilable ones, is more common than you think.
Bea And Wilma
Bea the giraffe and Wilma the ostrich share something else than just their long necks: a tight and endearing friendship. The pair first met at the Busch Gardens theme park in Tampa, Florida, and they clicked right on the spot.
They both live in the same big enclosure of about 65 acres; however, they can be seen relaxing together most of the time.
Bubbles And Bella
Bubbles is an African elephant, and Bella is a black labrador. Bubbles was originally rescued from ivory poachers in Africa and brought over to a safari reserve in the US.
That’s where he met Bella, who had been left there by a contractor who used to work in the park. Ever since then, they have been inseparable. One of their favorite moments together is when Bella uses Bubbles as a diving board.
Shrek And Torque
Owl Shrek was taken away from her mother when she was born; the carers in the animal center feared that she might be eaten by her own mother, who was under a lot of stress and acting erratically.
This six-month-old greyhound, Torque, adopted Shrek right away. The greyhound is very protective of his adopted daughter; he follows her around at their carer’s home and always keeps an eye on her.
Dennis And Fred
Dennis is a duckling. His mother was hunted by a fox, and things were looking grim for him. But right then, Fred the Labrador and his owner Jeremy stepped into the picture. They found Dennis and rescued him.
Ever since then, Dennis and Fred have been soulmates and are always seen wandering around Jeremy’s property together.
Milo And Bonedigger
Believe it or not, this 11-pound dachshund named Milo is this lion’s biggest caregiver. Bonedigger is a 500-pound lion suffering from a metabolic bone disease.
Since they first met five years ago, Milo took Bonedigger under his wing. Nowadays, they’re still great friends. Bonedigger also enjoys hanging out with Milo’s friends, named Bullet and Angel.
Mabel And Her Puppies
Mabel was saved from the pot due to a foot injury when she was just a chicken; shortly after, she was moved into her owner’s home. That’s when she met his puppies and became enamored with them.
Now, Mabel is a year-old hen who treats the puppies like they’re her own children. The puppies’ mother also lives in the house, but Mabel seems more involved than her in raising them and taking care of them.
Wild Cat And Fox
The picture was taken by a fisherman, and nothing is known about the cat and the fox. Isn’t it weird that they seem so close and friendly? After all, foxes are known to be elusive animals who tend to keep to themselves, not to mention natural predators.
Also, feral cats are similar. They tend to be loners who wander around with a chip on their shoulder, always ready to hunt their prey or defend themselves against predators. Maybe the pair got tired of being alone and became friends.
Sere Khan, Baloo, And Leo
These are Sere Khan, Baloo, and Leo; they are a tiger, a bear, and a lioness. Their story is a tragic but also heartwarming one; they used to be under the possession of a millionaire criminal, who kept them captive and mistreated them.
Fortunately, the criminal was arrested, and the three big animals were rescued. Right now, they are under the care of the Noah’s Ark Animal Sanctuary in the US.
Manni And Candy
Manni is a wild boar piglet who was found in a field in southwest Germany. He was found starving by the Dahlhaus family, who immediately felt moved by the heartbreaking sight.
The family decided to take Manni to their cottage. There, he was introduced to their Jack Russell terrier, named Candy. They two have been soulmates ever since then.
Kasi And Mtani
Kasi and Mtani, a cheetah and a labrador, have been friends since the beginning of their lives. They grew up and were raised together in Busch Gardens, Tampa.
As Kasi grew into adolescence, he became more interested in the female cheetahs living in the park and started distancing himself from Mtani. However, they are still friends to this day and hang out together every now and then.
Real Life Bambi
Remember Bambi? This deer and his friend, the rabbit, will instantly make you think of the classic Disney movie. They were spotted by animal photographer Tanja Askani in the middle of a snowy forest. Right then, she knew she had to portray them.
Perhaps the most striking thing about the image is how the rabbit’s face seems like a tinier version of the deer’s.
Suryia And Roscoe
As you may know, orangutans are an endangered species. The one in this picture, Suryia, lives in a reserve in the US. She met this dog, Roscoe, when he followed her and her carers home.
It didn’t seem like he had any other place to stay, so they let him stay in the reserve, where he became really close to Suryia.
Anjana And Her Tiger Cubs
This chimpanzee, named Anjana, lives in a reserve in the US. When they brought over some white tiger cubs, the ape instantly became enamored with them.
She has been helping their caretaker, China York, to raise them like they’re her own offspring. It’s not her first time: she has helped China take care of other orphaned animals in the past. And as you can see in the picture, she really enjoys doing it. In order to protect the privacy of those depicted, some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed and are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblances to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, are entirely coincidental.