A cheetah and a Labrador, raised together at a Florida animal park, continue to be inseparable a year later.
Kasi, the cheetah, was introduced to Mtani, a female Labrador, when he was just eight weeks old, while Mtani was 16 weeks old. Though the Labrador was much bigger, she allowed the little cheetah cub to climb over her.
A year later, the two grew to the same size and lived full-time in the cheetah habitat at Busch Gardens in Tampa.
Their bond has strengthened, and they display behaviors typical of cheetah siblings, standing shoulder to shoulder and rubbing their heads together.
Zoo manager Tim Smith shared, “Male cheetahs often form close social bonds and live in groups called coalitions. Kasi and Mtani’s relationship mirrors this dynamic and will remain companions for life.”
Visitors to Busch Gardens can watch the duo being trained by keepers, running and chasing each other in their specially designed enclosure.
Kasi and Mtani also visit schools and community events to promote the conservation of wild cheetahs and highlight the park’s efforts to protect the species.
Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). They are threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, with only about 12,400 remaining in the wild.
The SeaWorld & Busch Gardens Conservation Fund has contributed nearly $100,000 to cheetah conservation efforts in Africa since 2005.
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