Motherhood begins with a strong maternal instinct, and this bond transcends all boundaries. There are countless stories in which the animal kingdom gives us a glimpse of the incredible bond between mother and offspring, proving that maternal instincts are not exclusive to humans. Even more fascinating are the instances where animals have stepped in to adopt orphaned newborns from different species. These wonderful stories of maternal love between different species demonstrate that the animal world can nurture and protect the offspring just as any human mother would. From lionesses to bears and birds, these beautiful creatures act out of pure impulse and evoke tender emotions when they treat their adopted offspring just like their own.
A similar story has come to light where a Golden Retriever, despite not being their biological mother, is lovingly raising a pack of endangered African wild dog puppies at an Indiana zoo. Kassy, the golden retriever, has fostered the pups through their first critical month of life alongside her own babies.
The three endangered African painted dog pups were born at the Indiana Zoo to mother Bleu and father Maurice on September 28. They are currently identified as Blue, Red, and Orange, for the colours the staff have used to track them since birth.
“Within twelve hours of the puppies’ birth at the Potawatomi Zoo, the Animal Care team could tell that the pack would not be able to successfully raise the puppies. Bleu, an inexperienced mother, was not caring for her pups the way she should have, and Maurice was following her lead," Potawatomi Zoo said in an online statement, reported Hindustan Times.
“But it is so important for painted dog pups to be raised in a canine social structure. So, the zoo recommended finding a surrogate domestic dog to nurse the pups instead of bottle-feeding them. With the help of the Indiana Council for Animal Welfare, it only took a few hours for the zoo to connect the Zoo with a golden retriever female named Kassy who had a new litter of puppies and milk to share. She immediately accepted the puppies and cared for them. She’s a hero in our eyes," they added.
The zoo further added that Kassy and her puppies were brought to the zoo a day after the birth of the African painted pups. The golden retriever, a caring mother, included the painted dog as if they were her own babies. “Once the African painted pups are older, they can either be integrated with the Potawatomi Zoo pack or moved to another AZA-accredited facility where they will hopefully raise families of their own," they stated.
African wild dogs or African painted wolves are native to sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Potawatomi Zoo. These species have become endangered due to human-wildlife conflict, disease, and habitat fragmentation. African wild dogs hunt animals like antelope and other ungulates during the day, unlike most other African predators.
As reported by the Hindustan Times, the zoo stated, “Puppies are only produced by the dominant female in the pack. Painted dog gestation lasts 69 to 73 days, and painted dog females in the wild normally breed every 12-14 months. Litters can be as many as 16 puppies."
Isn’t the Golden Retriever truly amazing?
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