Meet Ruuxa the cheetah and Raina the canine from the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. These two fuzzy animals really speak to an encapsulation of the expression ‘closest companions always,’ and their story is one that will make you feel great inside. A mother cheetah will have a litter with 3 to 5 offspring, however they can have up to nine whelps in a single litter.
At the San Diego Zoo, Ruuxa was the main whelp in his litter. Mother cheetahs will regularly relinquished single whelps in light of the fact that their senses disclose to them that the one puppy won’t get by in nature.
Thus, when Ruuxa was surrendered by his mom, the zoo staff ventured in. The zoo staff needed to give the child cheetah a sidekick since he had no kin, they picked a 8-week old Rhodesian Ridgeback young doggie named Raina for the activity! It wasn’t long before the zookeepers realized Ruuxa’s front legs were not developing properly.
He had been born with a growth abnormality called chondrodysplasia. Ruuxa’s legs were not growing straight, they were growing in a bow shape. Keepers were worried this would prevent Ruuxa from being able to run. The zoo’s veterinarians performed corrective surgery on September 3, 2014.The zoo plans to have Raina and Ruuxa spend their lives together.
Raina’s body language will help keep Ruuxa calm if the zoo ever needs to move him to another habitat or when he faces an unfamiliar situation. Raina never left her buddy alone. During Ruuxa’ recovery, Raina was there. She was gentle with him and left his bandages alone.Thanks to Raina, Ruuxa completely recovered! Today, at one and a half years old, Ruuxa competes in the Shiley’s Cheetah Run! Ruuxa and Raina, are more like siblings than friends.