Emily Flores
In the wild, survival demands instinct, but sometimes, it also reveals a surprising capacity for compassion. Across the globe, animals have been observed stepping outside their species to nurture the young of others. These extraordinary acts of cross-species adoption offer glimpses into bonds that transcend biology. Prepare to discover 20 astonishing stories of animals embracing orphans that aren’t their own, each more heartwarming and unexpected than the last.
Lioness Adopts Leopard Cub
In July 2017, a 5-year-old lioness named Nosikitok in Tanzania’s Ngorongoro Conservation Area was photographed nursing a 3-week-old leopard cub. The lioness had recently given birth to her own litter. This made her physiologically primed to care for the cub. The fate of the leopard’s biological mother remains unknown.
Monkey Adopts Stray Puppy
A compassionate rhesus macaque became an unexpected guardian for a stray puppy in India. She shielded the little dog from danger and, surprisingly, even let it eat first. Locals watched in amazement as they played and slept together daily.
Dolphin Adopts Whale Calf
Near French Polynesia, a bottlenose dolphin took in a melon-headed whale calf and raised it alongside her own offspring. Researchers observed them for nearly three years. During this time, the whale calf learned dolphin behaviors, such as socializing and tail-walking.
Cat Adopts Baby Squirrels
Pusha, a cat in Crimea’s Bakhchisaray Miniature Park, adopted four young squirrels and raised them with her kittens. Although little research exists on cats fostering across species, her care gave the squirrels stability and growth in an unlikely family setting.
Lioness Kamunyak Adopts Baby Oryxes
In Kenya’s Samburu National Reserve, a lioness named Kamunyak, meaning “The Blessed One,” amazed experts by adopting at least six baby oryxes. Normally prey, the calves were fiercely protected as she stopped hunting, with researchers linking her unusual devotion to hormonal shifts or lost maternal instincts.
Dog Adopts Lamb
Could a dog become a lamb’s lifeline? On a Guernsey cider farm, a Labrador named Tia took in Rocky, a tiny, premature lamb rejected at birth. She sheltered and protected him as if he were her own. They formed a bond so heartwarming it revealed the astonishing maternal instincts of dogs.
Owl Adopts Ducklings
In Florida, a wood duck laid her eggs in a screech owl’s nest, creating a surprising twist of nature. The owl incubated and hatched the ducklings without harming them. Eventually, the tiny birds leapt safely from the nest as a remarkable example of unexpected cross-species care.
Horse Adopts Baby Deer
During a harsh Canadian winter, a mare welcomed an orphaned fawn into her stall. The horse allowed the fawn to rest beside her and gave warmth and comfort. Sharing hay and shelter, the fawn exhibited reduced stress and quickly formed a secure bond with the horse.
Duck Adopts Chicks
In a touching display of maternal instinct, mother ducks sometimes adopt chicks that aren’t their own. After hatching, they may lead these little ones to water, teach them essential survival skills, and integrate them into their brood, showing how nurturing and adaptable these birds can be.
Dog Adopts Piglets
On a farm, a Labrador mix became an unexpected mom to abandoned piglets. She let them nurse and groomed them, while the piglets followed her like puppies. Farmers watched in amazement as her maternal instincts extended beyond her own species.
Golden Retriever Nurses Stray Kitten
In the U.S., a golden retriever surprised many by adopting a stray kitten. She licked, groomed, and watched over it like her own puppy, aligning with research published on Frontiers, which shows domestic dogs often nurture and protect young, unrelated animals, especially when those animals lack a mother’s care.
Dog Adopts Fawn
This touching story unfolded in Ohio, where a German shepherd named Sarge formed an extraordinary bond with an orphaned fawn named Buckwheat. Sarge’s owner, Cheryl Stephen, discovered Buckwheat alone on the road and brought him home. From the moment they met, Sarge took on the role of Buckwheat’s guardian.
Capuchin Monkeys Adopt Marmoset
What happens when curiosity meets compassion in the wild? Two female capuchin monkeys adopted a tiny marmoset in Brazil and cared for it for 14 months until it reached adulthood. This was the first documented wild interspecies adoption among mammals, which surprised the observers.
Parrot Adopts Kittens
In a surprising incident in Brazil, a macaw named Louro spotted three abandoned kittens trapped in a fence post and immediately took charge. He cuddled and protected them, even alerting the nearby farmer. The kittens thrived under his watchful care and later joined the family.
Hen Adopts Puppies
Newborn puppies found warmth and protection under the feathers of a broody hen in Virginia, astonishing local farmers. Scientists explain such behavior as birds’ ability to adopt unrelated young, especially when early exposure triggers their strong maternal instincts across species boundaries.
Crow Feeds Kitten
In North Attleboro, Massachusetts, a stray kitten named Cassie found an unexpected guardian in a wild crow named Moses. After the kitten was abandoned behind a mobile home, Moses began bringing her food, such as worms and fireflies, and kept her company.
Goat Adopts Foal
In the rolling countryside of West Cork, Ireland, an extraordinary act of animal empathy unfolded when a nanny goat named Maggie adopted a motherless foal. The foal, orphaned shortly after birth, faced slim chances of survival—until Maggie stepped in.
Blind Cow Adopts Orphaned Lamb
Can a blind cow become a devoted mother? Annie, a cow at Life with Pigs Farm Sanctuary in Virginia, immediately bonded with an orphaned lamb, cared for and protected him despite her blindness. The lamb found comfort and security in her care, while Annie gained purpose and revealed the deep emotional capacity of animals.
Goat Adopts Orphaned Fawn
At Istanbul’s Park, a newborn fawn abandoned by its mother found an unlikely guardian in a goat. Zookeepers assisted by stimulating the fawn’s sucking reflex, and the goat accepted it, allowing the fawn to nurse and stay warm. This heartwarming bond highlights the surprising connections animals can form across species.
Beluga Whales Adopt Narwhal
In 2016, researchers from the Group for Research and Education on Marine Mammals (GREMM) in Quebec, Canada, spotted something extraordinary: a young narwhal swimming alongside a group of beluga whales within the waters of the St. Lawrence River. The narwhal, easily identified by its long tusk, had been fully accepted into the beluga group.