It’s well known that cats and dogs rarely get along. However, at New Jersey’s Turtle Back Zoo, one unique couple disproves this myth completely. Nandi is a cheetah, and her best friend, Bowie, is a yellow Labrador retriever. They have been together since they were both babies. Their example shows that sometimes animals need friends very much to maintain emotional stability.
How Bowie Helps Nandi Cope
Being naturally shy and skittish animals, cheetahs can be quite stressed by being in a zoo setting. This is where the function of Bowie is to be there as a confidence booster to Nandi – if something scares her, she turns to him, and he makes sure that she understands that all is well. According to zoo personnel, the loud purring of Nandi when around Bowie shows that she feels very comfortable.
In order to be able to play the role of a confidence builder, Bowie had to undergo special training as a therapy animal, which involved getting used to different environments and situations, such as a car ride and honking cars.
A Practice Used at Other Zoos Too
Turtle Back Zoo is not the only facility doing so. For example, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has had Labradors working with cheetahs for years now. Many other facilities across the United States keep cheetahs in pairs with Labs to reduce the animal’s anxiety, especially when the cheetah needs to become an educational “ambassador” for the zoo.
Still Going Strong
It is truly inspiring how long the story of Nandi and Bowie lasted since, even years after the two met as cubs, they continue to be together, and zookeepers and visitors still get to see the pair cuddle, play, and groom each other.
A Quick Note on Terminology
It should be noted that the term “emotional support dog” is applied to the situation in question, not in its official definition, which applies to people, but in its zoo-related slang meaning. The term “emotional support animal,” from an official point of view, is a type of animal designated under housing legislation to help with the problems of a mentally ill person. However, the essence of the matter remains the same.
Why It Matters
Apart from being an inspiring story about two species forming a special bond, the friendship of Nandi and Bowie also contributes to an important conservation message. Namely, the number of cheetahs left in the wild in Africa is less than 7,000 individuals, which makes such programs important for spreading the idea of cheetah protection to a larger audience. One more thing worth noting is that dogs also have an important function in terms of direct cheetah protection.
FAQs
1. Is Bowie a legally recognized emotional support animal?
Well, no – not in the legal sense, since ESA designation under housing law is specific to humans only, where it refers to animals that assist humans with their mental health issues.
2. Why are cheetahs specifically paired with dogs at zoos?
This is because cheetahs are shy animals that get startled easily, and having an experienced, confident dog as a companion would make them feel more comfortable, especially since cheetahs serve as educational ambassadors in many zoos.
3. Are Nandi and Bowie still together today?
Yes. Years after they were first paired as cubs, the two remain close companions at Turtle Back Zoo, and their bond has continued to be featured in zoo updates and media coverage well beyond their initial introduction.
4. Do other zoos use this same cheetah-and-dog pairing practice?
Yes. Zoos like the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium have used similar pairings, and it’s become a fairly common practice across zoos that care for cheetahs as part of their conservation and education programs.
5. How is Bowie trained for his role?
He receives training similar to a therapy animal, including consistent exposure to different environments, sounds, and situations, so he can remain calm and steady even in unpredictable settings around Nandi.
6. Does this story connect to wild cheetah conservation?
Indirectly, yes. Beyond building public awareness, dogs are also used in the wild as livestock guardians in cheetah habitats, helping protect farm animals and reducing the likelihood of farmers retaliating against wild cheetahs.
