Cat Comforts Grieving Orangutan at Zoo

On 10 Mar 2006 02:53:56 GMT, Margarita Salt
wrote:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060309/...comforting_cat

Cat Comforts Grieving Orangutan at Zoo
By The Associated Press

Tondalayo, a 45-year-old Sumatran orangutan, and T.J., a stray tabby
cat, became an inseparable duo after a zoo employee introduced them
late last year.

Stephanie Willard, Education Director at Zoo World in Panama City
Beach, said Tondalayo was depressed since losing her mate two years
ago.

Her age prevented her from moving to another zoo or taking another
mate. The ducks and turtles swimming in a moat around her island were
not enough, Willard told the Panama City News Herald for Thursday's
editions.

When the sweet-natured orange cat wandered into Willard's life, the
solution became clear.

"It's an unbelievable match," Willard said. "This has worked out a lot
better than I expected it to. She's got brighter eyes now. He's
brought a lot of light to her."

Zookeepers named the cat, T.K. — short for "Tondalayo's Kitty."

They play together, cuddle and sleep together each night. They have
been together constantly for more than a month.

"He's perked up Tonda more than anything," Willard said.


Interesting. Koko, the much-studied gorilla who can communicate in
English using a special typewriter, has also had a series of pet cats
to whom she has been devoted. She named one of them "All Ball"

Charlie