Smallscreen News

Nat Geo WILD: Thanksgiving Weekend block, Casey Anderson brings us Unlikely Animal Friends

By April MacIntyre Oct 23, 2012, 19:24 GMT

Tune in alert for four episodes of Unlikely Animal Friends which premieres Friday, November 23, and Saturday, November 24, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD

Can't we all get along?

Animals defy their wild natures and bond with each other in play and nurturing.
 
Tune in alert for four episodes of Unlikely Animal Friends which premieres Friday, November 23, and Saturday, November 24, from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD
 
From NGC:

A rhino and a sheep as best friends?  Sure!  An owl and a cat?  Why not?  A dog hanging out with a donkey?  Who are we to judge?  Get to know the funnier side of the animal kingdom as unlikely duos defy expectations — and sometimes millions of years of evolution — to show that true friendship has no bounds in the Thanksgiving Weekend special "Unlikely Animal Friends."
 
In four premiere episodes, experts like Nat Geo WILD’s Cesar Millan and Casey Anderson explain why animals sometimes form emotional bonds with those of another species, regardless of size or shape. 

Nicknamed the “animal magnet” as a kid, Casey Anderson grew up in Montana surrounded by wilderness and animals. After college, he became an animal keeper and trainer at wildlife parks, traveling to elephant orphanages in Kenya, hanging out with crocodiles, and even getting thrashed by a mountain lion.

Then baby bear Brutus came into his life. Brutus was born in an overpopulated wildlife park. Casey rescued him from being euthanized and built a new sanctuary just for Brutus. A natural performer, Brutus was comfortable around people, making him a perfect assistant to teach park visitors about grizzly anatomy and conservation — and starring in educational videos and even feature films and television shows.

Today, Brutus is a 7-year-old in his prime and continues to be Casey’s best pal.

Anderson is perfect to talk about how it's only natural to want a buddy, even if you’re a 500-pound bear named “Mouse” whose best friend is a 6-pound cat, or a person who is as close to a seal as most people are to their dog or cat! 

The bonding takes place on Friday, November 23, with two episodes premiering at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET/PT, and another two episodes premiering Saturday, November 24 at 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.  A special “Best Of” episode follows on Saturday at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.  You’ll want to watch it all with your own BFF (human or animal!).
 
Premiere specials include the following:
 
Unlikely Animal Friends:  “Dogs Gone Wild”
Friday, November 23, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
It’s no surprise that dogs are man’s best friend, but can dogs really be buds with a dolphin, a deer, a bear, a cheetah and a donkey?  Ben, a sweet yellow Labrador Retriever, meets an unexpected underwater friend, Duggie the dolphin, and often swims to the point of exhaustion to hang out with him.  What happens when Ben gets too tired to make it back to shore?  Duggie gives him a lift, of course — that’s what friends are for, right?  Nat Geo WILD’s Cesar Millan joins this episode to explain why it’s perfectly normal for a pup to pal around with species of all types — even unlikely wild ones!
 
Unlikely Animal Friends:  “Hello Kitty”
Friday, November 23, 2012, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Sometimes, a feline can be the best friend of all.  From housecats to big cats like leopards and lions, unlikely friendships are formed as these cats cuddle with their deer, bunny, bear and human companions.  Stories include a housecat that enjoys play dates with a barn owl, a deer that loves to groom her lynx pal and a rare black leopard that befriends a white bunny.
 
Unlikely Animal Friends:  “Man’s Other Best Friend”
Saturday, November 24, 2012, at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
Sometimes, man’s best friend is a goose, a seal — or even a bear!  Meet Maria, a goose that warms the heart of Dominic, an aging retiree in a Los Angeles park, whose friendship eventually earns celebrity status.  Next, a young boy in South Africa surprisingly befriends one of Africa’s most dangerous animal duos:  a buffalo and her calf. 

Finally, Nat Geo WILD’s Casey Anderson proves that best friends can come in any shape or size — including a 900-lb. grizzly bear named Brutus!  Casey rescued Brutus from an overpopulated wildlife park in 2002 and the pair has been inseparable ever since, even celebrating birthdays together!
 
Unlikely Animal Friends:  “The Wild Bunch”
Saturday, November 24, 2012, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
Meet a picky rhino that finds the perfect playmate in a sheep, and an elderly orangutan that loses her mate to old age but meets a new and unexpected buddy:  an orphaned orange kitty.  Finally, a lost wild boar finds a new family in a herd of cows that welcome him into their tight-knit circle.
 
Unlikely Animal Friends:  “The Most Unlikely Of All”
Saturday, November 24, 2012, at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT
Highlights of the best stories from Nat Geo WILD’s hit series Unlikely Animal Friends are brought together in this one hour special you will love. Some favorite friendships featured include Ben the Labrador who is pals with a dolphin; a tortoise who befriends an orphaned hippopotamus; and a lion who prefers play dates with his human friends! These animals remind us that best buddies can come in any shape or size — BFFs forever!
 
For more information, visit www.natgeowild.com.