Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom

by Jennifer S. Holland

It is exactly like Isaiah 11:6: “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid . . . ” Written by National Geographic magazine writer Jennifer Holland, Unlikely Friendships documents one heartwarming tale after another of animals who, with nothing else in common, bond in the most unexpected ways. A cat and a bird. A mare and a fawn. An elephant and a sheep. A snake and a hamster. The well-documented stories of Koko the gorilla and All Ball the kitten; and the hippo Owen and the tortoise Mzee. And almost inexplicable stories of predators befriending prey—an Indian leopard slips into a village every night to sleep with a calf. A lionness mothers a baby oryx. Ms. Holland narrates the details and arc of each story, and also offers insights into why—how the young leopard, probably motherless, sought maternal comfort with the calf, and how a baby oryx inspired the same mothering instinct in the lionness. Or, in the story of Kizzy, a nervous retired Greyhound, and Murphy, a red tabby, how cats and dogs actually understand each other’s body language. With Murphy’s friendship and support, Kizzy recovered from life as a racing dog and became a confident, loyal family pet.These are the most amazing friendships between species, collected from around the world and documented in a selection of full-color candid photographs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Photography, Short Stories, Science, Friendship

210 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2011

Reviews

[Petra X · Rating 2 out of 5]

This review is written with apologies to the white horse that has been coming into my garden for years and years along with his best pal, a rather unfriendly donkey. And apologies also to Angel, the sulfur-crested cockatoo who is either best pals or very agile torturer to Juluka, Savuka and Johnny, the rotweillers.

They all live in a very large house where Angel has a perch made from branches of a dead tree. The rotweillers who are ostensibly guard dogs (bur are really pets) lie on the floor about 8 yards in front of the door. If anyone they hear anyone approaching they don't know they get up and crowd crowd around the door. They don't bark, they don't need to, their looks are menacing enough.

Angel can fly but not very far, he prefers to walk to his preferred perch, on the back of the dogs. So he gets down from his tree and walks across the floor and makes for the dogs, chattering a mix of cockatoo and English all the time. Up he hops on the back of one (oh those claws) walks around from one to the other until he decides on which ones head or back he fancies most. Then he settles down for a good 'conversation' (the chosen rotweiller is a good listener, not so much up for chat themselves). And all are happy as they have been for years.

But the book isn't like that. It's lots of cute pics of unlikely animal pairings together with lots of really crap descriptions of their 'friendships'. Some of the animals are undoubtedly friends, but here 'friendship' is stretched to include two baby animals in a rescue shelter sharing a cage for an hour or two.

This is a good gift for those people who buy page-a-day calendars of cutsie animals and haven't read anything since they left school.

Rewritten 1 Oct 2016

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just about the Awwwiest book you ever did see!

Chock-full of photos and stories of unusual pals, this one is sure to tug at any animal lover's heartstrings.


There are cats & bears.


Dogs & cheetahs.


Dogs & owls.


Dogs and cats living together with . . . mass hysteria, I kid you not!

Next you'll be telling me that lions, and tigers, and bears can get along . . .

Oh, never mind.

This was one of my favorite images from the book - a macaque and his kitty.

I love it! How does he know to support that cat's butt?

If you're looking for a feel-good, make-you-smile book, then look no further.

[Bren fall in love with the sea. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Animals don't get enough credit for all they're capable of emotionally.”
― Jennifer S. Holland, Unlikely Friendships : 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom



Calling all animal lovers! This one's for you.

Just look at the cover!


A must read for all animal lovers.

For some "warm fuzzies", this is is the perfect book. I received a copy from a friend and fellow animal lover. There are such beautiful stories about some "unlikely" (but utterly adorable) friends.

The photos are utterly adorable and will melt your heart.

There are also short stories that go along with each photo.

Absolutely adorable and highly recommended.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING!! This is a MUST READ for anyone that loves animals. It will make you smile. The stories and pictures were beautiful. I feel inspired and uplifted by these creatures that show so much love, regardless of their differences. We(humans) need to take note.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would recommend this book just for the adorable photos- I used the cover photo as my screensaver for a while. Some of the stories are incredibly touching. My favorite was about Tarra the elephant and Bella the dog from the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee. There is no doubt that these animals have complex emotions and intellect that we sometimes take for granted.

[Jodi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have several of these “Unlikely Friendships” books, but this one—Remarkable stories from the Animal Kingdom—is my favourite. Dozens of strange animal pairings are the focus: Duckling and Kookaburra; Bobcat Kitten and Fawn, Macaque and Dove, Leopard and Cow. But the one that breaks my heart everytime I read about it—and it happened 40 years ago—is the Western Lowland Gorilla and the Kitten.

Many of you may know about Koko, the Western Lowland Gorilla who learned to become fluent in American Sign Language. Koko’s teacher had been reading to her for years. Koko’s favourite books were The Three Little Kittens and Puss in Boots. One day, just before Koko’s birthday, she drew two fingers across her cheek, indicating she wanted a Kitten for her birthday. Stuffed kittens just weren’t doing it for her so, eventually, she was presented with a litter of abandoned kittens and asked to choose her favourite. She named him Ball.

When asked by her teacher if she loved her little Ball, Koko signed, “Soft, good cat.”

But, sadly, their relationship was cut short when the winter after Koko adopted the kitten, it escaped from the gorilla enclosure and was hit by a car.

Those working with Koko say the ape’s tremendous sadness was clear, revealed in hand gestures, her silent language of grief, and her crying calls. When asked if she wanted to talk about her loss, Koko gestured: “Cry.” “What happened to your kitty?” her trainer asked. “Sleep cat.” Pointing to a photo of a cat that resembled Ball, Koko’s big hands spoke again: “Cry, sad, frown.”

But time heals all wounds and, eventually, Koko soon bonded with two new little kittens.

This is Koko and Ball:


5 “Remarkable-interspecies-friendships” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

I enjoyed every one of the 47 stories of real friendships between different species. Some should have been enemies but chose to care deeply for each other. The stories and photos will make you smile and be glad you read this book! I loved it.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a quick read, but it sure made me feel good. Just look at that cover photo! More improbable photos and stories inside of cross-relationships between species. It proves that animals do feel emotions and need touch and affection as much as humans do. And also shines a light on what bonds different species. It's often trauma or basic needs that help them bond. I recall after 9/11 how much this country pulled together. Hope we can take a cue from our animal neighbors and pull together again. This makes a great gift.

[♥ Sandi ❣ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

A book of short two to four page stories about friendships - animal friends - unusual ones. Each of them with one picture and many with multiple pictures. Some of the parings are really unusual - animals that are normally predator and prey.

Take for example the Hamster and the Snake or the Bobcat and the Fawn. We have all heard of the Gorilla and the Cat, but how about the Black Bear and the Black Cat or the Sled Dog and the Polar Bear or the Rat and the Cat? There are 47 pairings in this book, some not so unusual, but others - like those mentioned above - are almost unbelievable.

A quick read - a surprising read - made even better by the accompanying pictures.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everyone needs a friend--someone to play with, to snuggle with, to share joys and fears with, someone to console you when you're down. This book tells forty seven short stories of unusual friendships from around the world--an iguana and a cat; a leopard and a cow; an elephant and a dog; a bird and a cat; a dog and a fish! Many people think that animals don't have many emotions. But this book about love and friendship shows how deep animals' emotions run. Beautiful photographs accompany each story. It's a wonderful book that will touch your heart.

[GoldGato · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compadres exist within the animal kingdom, something almost all of us can attest to seeing. What makes this book different is that it looks at friendships which, theoretically, shouldn't happen. A Lion and an Oryx would not be a normal buddy system nor would a Rat and a Cat. Getting kinda Dr. Seuss-sy here.

Every pairing gets a few pages and some photographs, so it's a nice read. However, these aren't all permanent pals, as some of the animals are just temporary bunk-mates. The book brought back memories of the family dog and family cat, who were both adopted as puppy and kitten. They grew up together and never failed to bring a laugh, as the cat would usually antagonize the dog into a little quarrel and my parents would come running and shake their hands at the poor doggy. Or when we would try to play a family game of ping-pong, but the cat would jump on the table and slap the ball into the waiting dog's mouth. Those two loved each other and when the dog eventually died, the cat was never really the same again. Miss them, so this book was a happy read.

Book Season = Year Round (cutie-pies)

[Laura Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

You would have to have an ice cube for a heart not to love this book. This is the first title in an exceptional photo book series. I would put it in the gift book category but you gotta keep a copy for yourself. The cover shot says it all. Pics of animals that have bonded with other species because animals and birds are just plain awesome. There is also a calendar series which is terrific, too.

[Quince · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the moment I am reading this book, it is soooooo good!!! The stories are really amazing. The bonds woven between totally different animals are quite remarkable. The story about the dog and the fish really impressed me. At the beginning, I thought the dog was going to ignore or eat the fish. But instead they became best buddies!!!

I can't wait to finish this book and start reading another book from the same author called "Unlikely Loves". I think it will be kind of the same, but different too.

This long review sums up how awesome this book really is. The end. ;-)

[Udit Nair · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The difference in mind between man and the higher animals, great as it is, certainly is one of degree and not of kind.”
— Charles Darwin

This book tries to demonstrate the above-mentioned quote. These are heart-warming, sometimes unbelievable, and often moving tales of bonds formed between species that we once assumed lived in separate emotional worlds. Each story gently reminds us that affection, comfort, loyalty, and companionship are not uniquely human traits but threads that run widely across the animal kingdom.

For decades, scientific rigor trained us to avoid anthropomorphising, to be cautious, not to project human emotions onto animals. But as Frans de Waal repeatedly argued, if we accept that evolution shaped empathy, attachment, and emotional regulation in humans, then there is little reason to doubt that these same processes shaped other species too.

What makes the book special is not just the novelty of the pairings, but the quiet reminder that connection often appears where we least expect it. These stories are small windows into the rich emotional lives of animals that we are only beginning to understand.

Unlikely Friendships is tender, charming, and unexpectedly profound. It leaves you with a simple realisation: the capacity for companionship is not limited by species; it is a universal language of life.

[Aqsa]

Can't wait to read this. I came across it in A Wolf Called Romeo by Nick Jans.

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 STARS

I didn't read every one of the 47 stories in this book, but I did read many of them and skimmed over the rest.

I love the concept here. It is wonderful, inspiring, heart-warming and thought-provoking to see various species of animals (some of whom one would think would never be "friends"--such as a leopard and a cow!) find a mutually beneficial relationship. As an animal lover and a vegan, I personally believe that animals do have emotions and can experience friendship, so some of the stories in this book touched me deeply.

The stories of animals in the wild were especially interesting to me. It seemed more unusual, more "special", in some ways than, say, a pet iguana and a pet kitten becoming friends (though, of course, any friendship is still special--it just seems more unusual in the wild, vs. in someones home were the interaction are more encouraged and less spontaneous).

Unfortunately, I can't quite bring myself to bump this up to a four star book (even though the idea of animal friendships is a five-star one for me) because I didn't feel the storytelling here was anything fabulous and some of the stories felt a bit redundant. Some of the stories aren't really what I would consider "friendships" but more like chance encounters, and brief. The focus on pets vs. animals in the wild got a bit boring and in some cases it almost felt like I could have found more by just going to YouTube and searching for material. Some of the best stories, such as the one about the gorilla Koko and her kitten, or the baby hippo and the tortoise who became friends after the tsunami, have been reported better in other books( Koko's Kitten and Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship: The True Story Of A Remarkable Friendship, for example). Too, some of the stories were just so sad! I had expected more of a feel-good read, so I kind of wish we did not have to read about the sad ends some of these animals met :-(

I do recommend this book with reservations. As I said, the concept is wonderful and there are some really touching, happy stories. However, overall the redundancy and the sad stories kept me from wanting to read every one of the 47 stories in their entirety.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of stories about oddball animal friendships is documented with great photos. Among the 47 cases of strange affection, we have a cow snuggling with a wild leopard, a cat with an iguana, sled dog with polar bear, or a cat serving as a seeing-eye guide for a blind dog. This could be a bunch of silly anecdotes, but the collection shows that even fish, birds, and reptiles have quirks of personality that can override instinct, allowing for long-term friendly relations that break every mold. These friendships are like mutations in emotional possibility that can lead to new social patterns among beasts and people. I suspect our first domestications of animals arose from such oddball friendships between species, which became learned behavior for future generations.

[reading is my hustle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this book up at Third Street Books in McMinnville earlier this week and could not put it down. I had our #2 in mind when I did so since she is our child that would live in the wild (if she could).

And so, GOODNESS. Predators befriending prey with GORGEOUS pictures. Come on! The author writes for National Geographic and does a terrific job. The stories about these animals really are (as the title suggests) remarkable. Enjoy.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was on vacation in Atlantic City earlier this month and found this in a cute store. I'm a hopeless animal lover, so this book was just TOO ADORABLE not to buy. I don't usually buy books. I'm an avid library-goer... so a book has to really stand out for me to buy it. I'll be happy to keep this on my bookshelf for many numerous rereads in the future!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received Unlikely Friendships: 47 Remarkable Stories from the Animal Kingdom as a Christmas gift this year. It was a book I almost didn't want to like just for the cutesy factor alone. But, I have to admit that I was quickly sucked in and spent the next few hours devouring the photos and the short tales of the bonds between unexpected animal pairs and slightly larger animal groupings. It's perhaps a leap to call these bonds "friendships," especially in the tales describing simple one-time encounters, or those largely orchestrated by humans. I found I was much more interested in the stories of the animals who found each other on their own terms and developed longstanding attachments. The photos were wonderful and heartwarming. The tales, a bit skimpy in length, were very simple complements to the photos. My only criticism pertains to the books introduction. I find that authors of these types of books feel the need to at least attempt to speak to more academic issues rather than just presenting a coffee-table book with animal photographs. Their efforts invariably fail because the authors simply are not knowledgeable enough about or don't make the effort to really delve into the field of study behind their topic. In this book, Ms. Holland cobbles together a short and overly simplistic introduction to animal behavior that is weak and essentially worthless. She's not an animal behaviorist but a magazine reporter. So let's just call this book what it is, a wonderful but simple book of great animal photographs with tiny tales that are really brief explanations of the stories behind the photos. It works on that level. It works quite well.

[Ken Heard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jennifer Holland acknowledges the science that animals do not have human emotions like friendship and bonding, but then she proves that science wrong with her collection of really nice stories of odd connections in the animal world.

There are some odd ones, too. For instance, a snake befriends a hamster. Normally a meal for the reptile, a snake in Holland's book is buddies with the rodent, even creating a bed for it by coiling himself up.

There's heartfelt tales of animals that make friends with other species then become sad when their pals leave. And there's stories of animals protecting friends, sharing food, loving them.

One thing I noticed is that Holland writes well. It would seem in telling 47 stories about animals bonding, it would get repetitive. Instead, each story is engaging. The photographs are amazing, too. Also, kudos to Holland for finding the tales and sharing them.

Animals do have personalities and have the capability of showing care and friendship, and Holland proves that in this book. In a world that seems full of negative conflict, "Unlikely Friendships" is a good diversion and proof that there is still some good in the world.

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just look at that cover...look at it!! How can you resist reading stories about animals that in all reality shouldn't even like each other, but for some crazy reason end up comforting one another for a night or end up being best friends for years! This book offers up very original pairings of animals with pictures to confirm the stories. I read this over the course of two days and a few times I must admit to have been moved to tears. I've always thought that animals were God's gift to mankind. This is a must-read for anyone who loves animals and it confirms to me that animals have big hearts and old souls.

[Mrs. Nelson's · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the cover picture of a macaque caressing a dove, I was hooked on this simply wonderful collection of photographs and stories illustrating the emotional needs of our animal brothers and sisters and the the strange examples of how these are sometimes met. It's designed with a sturdy paper cover that doubles as a bookmark. The short tales (all true) and all 1 - 3 pages are great pick-me-ups for the coffee table or bathroom reading! Fun for the whole family!
--Review by Carol

[Katlyn Twidle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the author for expressing that although we don't know why these relationships form, we know they do form, and that friendship is one possible (and adorable) motive behind why these unlikely animals bond with and nurture one another! Either way, this book will melt your heart...

[Jay Mantle · Rating 5 out of 5]

So touching are the stories and the photos.

[irem · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the most wholesome books i’ve read up to date. instantly boosts my mood whenever i feel down because COME ON!!! ANIMALS BEING FRIENDS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING EVER 😭

[Hákon Gunnarsson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is simply a beautiful book which I take out to read every now and then. It is full of cute photographs of different animals interacting and some very good stories about these animals. It shows something that animals are capable of friendship with animals of very different species. Just a few examples: a cat and a dog, monkey and pigeon, elephant and dog, leopard and a cow, and so on.

Not that this is surprising. My first dog and my grandmothers cat had some kind of understanding so they got on quite well. The cat even took it up on itself to help my dog once when another dog was messing with it. The result was that the cat sent the other dog running for "the hills," so to speak. Nobody was going to mess with her friend. And I've seen this a few times since in animals I've been around.

The only complaint I have about this book is that occasionally the authors use of the term friendship is quite broad. There are stories that I would not have said showed friendship. Like in one case where young animals end up in the same spot for a night after having been on the run from a forest fire. That story sounds like it has more to do with exhaustion than friendship.

But most of the stories I can see as examples of friendship, and are beautiful examples of that. So I think I can whole heartedly recommend this to anyone that likes cute animal stories.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlikely Friendships by Jennifer S. Holland is subtitled "47 remarkable stories from the Animal Kingdom." The cover shows a white dove being hugged by a tiny monkey. This is definitely a book you can judge by its cover. The most relevant word in this review is going to be "awww."

The book contains cute and touching stories about odd relationships between animals like an iguana and a house cat, a lioness and an oryx, and a tortoise and a hippo. The stories are accompanied by photos that will make you say "aww." Some of the relationships are not much more than a single encounter; others last the lifetime of one of the animals. The author does not present the stories as episodes out of real-life Disneyland, but acknowledges in many cases the reasons that might have prompted the animal pairs and the benefits each animal gained. However, she also points out that we underestimate animals, their intelligence, and their emotions, and I agree with that. This book is a quick and uplifting read. If you like to view cute animal photos and stories on the internet, you will enjoy Unlikely Friendships.

[Natalie (Natflix&Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't even tell you how many hours I've wasted looking at those cute pictures on the internet of an elephant and a dog who are best friends, or a monkey and a cat, or a bear and a tiger. This is that. In a book. It is awesome.

[Jami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent Vignettes

I enjoyed the vignettes of the various animal friendships. For those that don't believe animals have emotions, this book is for you. In addition to the stories, I enjoyed the pictures and the descriptions of the various species.