The abundance of snow left from a record-breaking snowstorm on the East Coast was a treat for two animals at the Metro Richmond Zoo in Virginia.
Like the adorable panda bear named Tian Tian at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., who went viral for rolling around in the snow, Kumbali and Kago were caught having the time of their lives in the wintry conditions. It was also the first time the 8-month-old animals played in the snow.
"While the zoo was closed, one of our zookeepers let the best friends run and explore in a large enclosed field covered with 7 inches of snow. Their reaction to the white fluff is priceless," the zoo shared on YouTube.
Kumbali, a cheetah cub, and Kago, a rescued yellow labrador mix puppy, have been friends since the day they were introduced. And their friendship is easy to detect as they playfully chase and jump on each other in the snow.
"Kumbali was in need of a companion — and not of the human sorts. Man’s best friend would soon become cheetah’s, too," the zoo explained in a blog post. "This symbiotic relationship would never happen in the wild; however, we believe the positive outcomes outweigh any negative. As the two grow up together, they create a bond that becomes almost inseparable, sibling-like. They provide companionship for each other."
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