It could have been a fable by La Fontaine: a wonderful story of friendship between a disabled calf and a giant tortoise. As improbable as it may be, this endearing camaraderie warms our hearts!
It’s hard not to be moved by the touching friendship between animals. It’s even more touching when the species are completely different. Like these two special creatures: a calf and a tortoise. Named Simon and Leonardo, they both encountered difficulties before being saved. And, against all odds, they developed a wonderful friendship that was totally unexpected. Discover their lovely story.
The Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand (WFFT), an animal rescue organization located in Phetchaburi (province in Thailand) has shared a fabulous series of photos revealing a pair of unlikely friends who seem closer than ever. We see Simon, an adorable little brown calf with a sad look. And for good reason, he got seriously tangled in a vine while grazing with his mother, which led to the amputation of one of his legs. The rescue center equipped him with a prosthesis and planned to introduce him to a herd of other rescued cattle. As for Leonardo, a large male African spurred tortoise, he has been living at the WFFT since 2016. After the Bangkok zoo where he lived closed, he found himself homeless, before being taken in by the organization.
When he arrived at the WFFT, Simon needed time to recover and grow serenely before interacting with the other rescued cows, which is why he was housed in a large enclosure. This is where he seems to have formed a strong friendship with the African tortoise, also rescued by the organization. “We decided to temporarily house Simon in a large outdoor enclosure at the WFFT rescue center so he could recover from his ordeal,” the rescuers wrote. “We then planned to move him to a field where we were housing two other rescued cows.”
When Simon met Leonardo, their bond was almost instantaneous. Perhaps it was his unusual shell or his reptilian gaze. The rescuers will never know exactly what sparked this surprising friendship, but since they met, they have been inseparable. “To everyone’s surprise, the calf has formed a strong bond with this large turtle. They are often seen following each other, sharing meals, and resting together,” the rescuers wrote. And it seems that this unusual friendship has stood the test of time. “As Simon matures into a magnificent bull, this friendship continues to flourish,” the organization wrote.
Although they are completely different, Leonardo and Simon clearly show us the meaning of true friendship.
It is true that friendship between animals of different species is a fascinating phenomenon that has often been observed in nature. Typically, this type of complicity can arise in situations where animals are in captivity, such as in zoos and specific shelters, where they evolve together in the same space. The most common examples of unlikely friendships are relationships between prey and predators or between species that would not have any particular contact in the wild.
In conclusion, the organization said: “Simon has won the hearts of many of us here at WFFT with his sensitive personality and playful nature. We have decided to temporarily house him in a large outdoor enclosure within the rescue center, so that he can recover from his unfortunate experience. We then plan to move him to a field where we will house two other rescued cows.” But, to everyone’s surprise, Simon the calf has formed a very strong bond with the big turtle, Leonardo.”
The mystery of their fraternization remains, but their attachment is really a pleasure to see…