KILDARE ANIMAL FOUNDATION (MAIN IMAGE, INSET OF PAIR); THOMAS HINSCHE / GETTY IMAGES (RABBIT IN SIDEBAR); MATHIAS SCHAEF / MCPHOTO / ULLSTEIN BILD VIA GETTY IMAGES (PIGEON IN SIDEBAR)
you’re my
bff: bird
friend
forever!PIDG AND BUNNY
COZY UP TO EACH
OTHER.LENGTH
13 inches
DIET
seeds, grains, and fruit
EGG ALERT
It takes about 17 days
for their eggs to hatch.
ROCK ON
They’re sometimes
called rock doves.Kildare,Ireland
Bunny the European rabbit and Pidg the common pigeon didn’t
let anything come between their friendship—even a wall!
The animals were found weak and alone, and were brought sep-
arately to Kildare Animal Foundation Wildlife Unit. Both needed to
stay warm to survive, but volunteer Aideen McGee only had one
incubator. So she put the rabbit and the bird inside together, set-
ting a cardboard wall between them so they’d each have their own
space. Later when McGee went to check on the duo, she saw that
Bunny had knocked down the barrier and was cuddling with Pidg!
McGee took away the cardboard wall so the animals could
snuggle 24/7. Shortly after, Bunny became sick, and Pidg refused
to leave the rabbit’s side. “The bird comforted Bunny and kept
him going,” Kildare wildlife manager Dan Donoher says. Once
Bunny recovered, the friends spent their time eating together,
grooming each other, and curling up at naptime. About six months
after arriving at the rescue, Pidg and Bunny were released back
into the wild. They may no longer be side by side. But, when they
needed it most, these guys had each other’s backs.BY ELISABETH DEFFNEREUROPEAN
RABBITWEIGHT
up to 5 pounds
DIET
grass, bark, buds,
and roots
ALL GROWN UP
Bunnies become
independent after
about a month.
DISTRESS SIGNAL
They thump their feet
when threatened.COMMON
PIGEON5
e dibl e
A F r i e n d s
e d
ibl
e
A F r i e n d s
BIRD HANGS OUT
WITH BUNNY