Amy Shields - Best Friends Forever: And More True Stories of Animal Friendships

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eISBN: 978-1-4263-0958-8

v3.1

It was love at first sight when Suryia the orangutan met this dog named Roscoe.

Bubbles gives a lift to Suryia, Roscoe, and animal trainer Moksha Bybee.

I t was a muggy, hot day. An elephant named Bubbles strolled through the woods. On her back bounced a fuzzy-haired orangutan named Suryia (sounds like SUR-ee-uh). Bubbles and Suryia were excited. They knew there was a river at the end of the path. Soon they were going to be in that river. They were going for a swim!

A man named Doc walked beside Bubbles and Suryia. Looking ahead, he saw a hound dog. It sat alone on the riverbank. It looked like a hungry dog. It was so skinny you could see its ribs. Just then, Suryia spied the dog, too. Before Doc could stop him, the playful ape jumped off Bubbles.

Suryia ran to the dog. He threw his long, hairy arms around it. Uh-oh, thought Doc. A hungry dog might be a mean dog. But the dog didnt mind a big, hairy hug. He even wagged his tail. Then he pounced at Suryia. The seven-year-old orangutan pounced back. That was their I-like-you, do-you-like-me? moment. The answer was yes!

The new pals chased each other in circles. Then they flopped down to rest. The orangutan put his arm around the dog. He pulled him close. They acted like long lost friends, Doc said.

After a while it was time to leave. Doc lifted Suryia back onto Bubbles. He tried to send the dog back to its own home.

But the dog followed them. He wagged his tail all the way. Wherever Suryia was, thats where the dog wanted to be. I guess youve decided to stay, said Doc. He named the dog Roscoe.

Doc is Dr. Bhagavan Antle (sounds like BAG-uh-vahn ANN-tuhl). He is the director of a wildlife preserve in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Suryia and Bubbles are just two of the animals that live there.

Doc and the other caregivers at the preserve also look after lions and tigers. They care for leopards and cheetahs. They watch over monkeys, chimpanzees, and other orangutans like Suryia. Theres even a liger (sounds like LIE-ger) named Hercules at the preserve. A liger is the cub of a lion father and a tiger mother.

Now Doc had a new animal to take care of, and Suryia had a new best friend.

Roscoe is a bluetick coonhound. Blueticks are smart and friendly. They really like to hunt. Blueticks keep their noses to the ground, sniffing for clues. They forget everything except Find it, find it!

Island
Homes

Orangutans used to live everywhere in Asia. Today they live in the wild on only two small islands. These are Sumatra (sounds like sue-MAH-tra) and Borneo (sounds like BORE-nee-oh)