Unlikely friends

Inseparable pair - Image from Reuters

Another poignant story was brought to my attention today. That of Boonlua the long-tailed macaque and Toby the rabbit who live together in the Thailand province of Ayutthaya. The then six year old Boonlua lost an arm and both his legs when he was attacked ferociously by a pack of dogs three years ago. He managed to drag himself to a temple nearby where the monks called a vet to treat him. The monks then took him to a centre where retired elephants live and an ex-zookeeper there designed a special enclosure for Boonlua to accommodate his handicap. Boonlua happily spent his days in this new found safety but he soon the zookeepers felt he needed a friend. In came Toby the rabbit who till today remains his constant companion. Boonlua shares his bounty of fruits, nuts, eggs and the occasional Mentos mints, which he loves, with Toby.