The Erie Zoo in Pennsylvania houses an unusual pair of friends. Samantha, a 47-year-old western lowland gorilla, had been without a pal since the death of Rudy, a male gorilla, in 2005.

Zoo keepers decided she was too old to be paired with another gorilla, so they introduced her to Panda, a Dutch rabbit, in February.

According to zoo director Cindy Kreider, “To have something sharing their space that they can observe and interact with is always going to be beneficial.”

The two get along well. Samantha gently pets Panda and shares her food.

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