Philly Dawg

Who says (big) cats and dogs don't get along? Meet Kasi and Mtani

Babies at Busch Gardens zoo in Florida in search of a playmate. Kasi, the cheetah cub who was born at the zoo in January last year, was paired with Mtani, a Labrador Retriever puppy about the same age, to help socialize him.

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Who says (big) cats and dogs don't get along? Meet Kasi and Mtani

POSTED: Friday, April 20, 2012, 5:31 PM

Amy Worden, Inquirer Staff Writer

It started like this:

Babies at Busch Gardens zoo in Florida in search of a playmate.

They found each other.

Kasi, the cheetah cub who was born at the zoo in January last year, was paired with Mtani, a Labrador Retriever puppy about the same age, to help socialize him.

Today the canine and feline pair live together at the park's cheetah habitat.

“Male cheetahs are social and often live together in coalitions,” animal curator Tim Smith. “This social bond will be a very similar relationship, and they will be together for life."

The pair often travels together to schools and makes television appearances to highlight the plight of cheetahs in the wild.

Cheetahs are included on both the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list of vulnerable species as well as the U.S. Endangered Species Act list. Only an estimated 12,400 cheetahs remain in the wild.

This week marked the one-year anniversary since Mtani and Kasi were unveiled to the public.

Look at them now!

(Photo/Busch Gardens/Tampa Bay)

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Comments (1)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:32 PM, 04/20/2012

What a nice piece. Only one thing concerns me; I am familiar with the lifespan of a Labrador Retriever - does this coincide with the lifespan of the cheetah? With the close, lifetime bond that they obviously share, It would sadden me to see one, at some point, be without the other. I still remember reading about the devastating heartbreak experienced by "Koko", the gorilla, when his kitten companion, which he named "All Ball" died.

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About this blog

Amy Worden is a politics and government reporter for the Inquirer. In that capacity she has explored a range of animal issues from dog kennel law improvements and horse slaughter to the comeback of peregrine falcons and pigeon hunts. From hamsters to horses, animals have always been part of her life. To pass along a tip or contact Amy, click here. Reach Amy at aworden@phillynews.com.