9 Unusual Animal Relationships (PHOTOS/VIDEOS)

Animals have a sensational ability to surprise us with the rare bonds they form, often defying animal experts' understanding and even going against the predatory instincts of nature. Whether a snake and a hamster, a crow and a cat, or a dog and an elephant--these are all fascinating friendships animals have formed beyond the boundaries of species.

Here are 9 unusual animal relationships! Vote for your favorite. If they can get along, it shouldn't be too hard for us, right?

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Snake And Hamster

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At a Japanese zoo, an unlikely surprise happened when the zoo keeper tried to feed a hamster to a rat snake. The snake refused to eat it! The two ended up becoming roommates, and the hamster even curls up for a nap on top of the snake. Watch the full video here.

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At a Japanese zoo, an unlikely surprise happened when the zoo keeper tried to feed a hamster to a rat snake. The snake refused to eat it! The two ended up becoming roommates, and the hamster even curls up for a nap on top of the snake. Watch the full video here.

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Comments

[leajazz]

11:51 PM on 06/14/2010

I have bred and raced horses. On the day my Little Honey was born, she stood up on all fours, walked up to me and nuzzled my face and hands. Big problem with a horse....she would eat only if I fed her and...when it came time for her to be broke and trained, I had make time to work with her and her trainer.

I never raced her...brought her home as a pet. Till this day I'll wave my hand in front of her face and say "come on Honey" and she follows me. It's really cute when I'm outside cooking, working or playing and she hangs out with me like a faithful puppy.

[leajazz]

11:39 PM on 06/14/2010

Years ago I took in a litter of three kittens who lost their mother. The two males bonded. The female bonded with me. That sweet little thing stuck to me like glue for 17 years. When one of the males died at age 15, The other male cried for weeks then bonded with the baby girl and me. He lived to be 21 years old.

[leajazz]

11:25 PM on 06/14/2010

Love? I don't know, can't say for sure. I will say for sure that animals bond and choose.

Years ago I went to a New Years Eve party. My friends miniature poodle sat on my lap and followed me the whole night. It was hilarious. I walked in circles and the little guy followed me. My friend couldn't keep him. I took him and it was the beginning of a amazing 15 year relationship.

[kulturkampf]

05:08 PM on 06/14/2010

And now for the most astounding, bizarre pairing known to the animal world... Jake the Teabagger & Saffron the militant leftist progressive! These two creatures- enemies in their natural world- have developed an unnatural bond with each other,much to the dismay of the rest of their respective packs."Look at them co-exist!" exclaimed park ranger Rod Eratt, "They should be tearing each other to pieces right now but they seem to have agreed to disagree- weird!"

[kcmookie]

03:16 PM on 06/14/2010

Now if the donkey and elephant would only learn to get along.....

[cef911f1]

08:19 AM on 06/15/2010

Well, there is Carville and Matalin! They have two daughters so......

[iturtle]

03:05 PM on 06/14/2010

I love stories like this, but they are also very sad in the way they attest to the tragedy of keeping wild animals captive for human entertainment/profit. I feel as though this snake for example is desperately lonely...imagine if you were locked in a cage all by yourself for your entire life? Never really seeing another creature such as yourself...I think it's easy for us to forget that animals often share similar social practices, needs and desires as we do.

[leajazz]

11:19 PM on 06/14/2010

Your right, that snake needs a snake friend.

[David Garrow]

02:02 PM on 06/14/2010

The snake is only waiting until it is big enough to eat the hamster. Snakes can live with anything up to humans, and decide to eat it once they have starved themselves enough.

[Lefty Pockets]

01:58 PM on 06/14/2010

How about the forbidden love between a man and a mosquito? Why God, must our love forever hide in the shadows?

[KingKrub]

01:55 PM on 06/14/2010

They are so much better than humans. I don't know of a "critter" that kills for sport or trophy other than us. Maybe the next line of evolution will produce a "ruling species" that is truly at one with this world of ours.

[jbeach]

02:09 PM on 06/14/2010

Cats kill for sport and trophy.

[Animal Compassion]

03:22 PM on 06/14/2010

Only after humans domesticated them.

[justoverit333]

12:44 PM on 06/14/2010

The orangutan and dog were hysterical!

[jsijason]

02:56 PM on 06/14/2010

That was great!

[mikenzinbfe]

12:29 PM on 06/14/2010

i kind of like the one with the bulldog puppy and the cat. in care it is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAtLd6Ihib4 it is really cute and funny, the boxing puppy lol

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

11:49 AM on 06/14/2010

All that's missing is a lion lying down with a lamb.

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

11:42 AM on 06/14/2010

Sarah Palin and John McCain had to be the strangest of all.

[niceguysneverfinish]

10:58 AM on 06/14/2010

Hey! Marriage is about a man and a woman, only! Not a dog and a chimp! It can happen!

[Rafalsays]

10:19 AM on 06/14/2010

Sad that as humans we can't get over our petty differences.

[Matelyan]

11:04 AM on 06/14/2010

Indeed. We could learn alot from these animals.