Let these animal friendships inspire you to share your appreciation for all the loved ones in your life, and learn how you can help protect these animals.
Although relationships may look different in the animal world than in our human one, many animals create lasting friendships and proudly protect their family circles!
1. Parakeets
Parakeets are highly social birds who form strong bonds with other parakeets. In the wild, they live in flocks and engage in social behaviors such as preening each other, playing, and communicating through various vocalizations.
Spread the Love: Parakeets are wild animals who belong in the wild, not on pet store shelves to be purchased and kept in human homes. Protect parakeets and other wild animals sold as pets by telling PetSmart and Petco to end wild animal sales.
2. Elephants
Elephants set a high standard for loyalty. Female elephants typically live in matriarchal herds, consisting of related females and their offspring. Elephants form close, lifelong friendships, often exhibiting behaviors such as helping each other, showing empathy, and mourning lost companions. They have recently even been shown to have names for each other!
Spread the Love: Tens of thousands of wild animals, including elephants, are being abused for the sake of entertaining tourists. Learn how to be a wildlife-friendly traveler and pledge never to ride or bathe an elephant.
3. Cows
It’s common knowledge that cows live in social herds, but did you know they also have best friends? In addition to living in herds, cows show recognition of, and preference towards, other individuals. Cow friendship is expressed primarily through companionship in grazing, eating, and licking.
Spread the Love: Help protect cows by calling for an end to the cruel practice of factory farming. Urge your legislators to support the Farm System Reform Act.
4. Chimpanzees
In keeping with most primates, chimpanzees are very sociable animals. Young chimps learn much of their socialization through play with each other, and older chimps prefer a few close friendships as well. Chimps have even been known to form deep friendships with their primate peers, gorillas!
Spread the Love: Primates do not belong in households, but many are bred to satisfy the demand for primate pets. Support the Captive Primate Safety Act to help end the cruel primate pet trade.
5. Pigs
Pigs can form strong bonds with each other, preferring the company of certain individuals over others. These friendships can manifest in behaviors such as playing together, grooming each other, and sleeping close to one another.
Spread the Love: Pigs farmed for meat go through unspeakable horrors. Support pig protection and other farmed animals by reducing your meat consumption and becoming a Plant-Powered Changemaker.
6. Dolphins
Dolphins are social animals and create strong bonds with their pod members. These bonds extend beyond companionship to caregiving—dolphins have been known to give special protection and aid to those in their pod who are ill or injured.
Spread the Love: Don’t be fooled by their smiles—captive dolphins and other whales are suffering when they’re forced to entertain in captivity. Help end whale captivity by supporting the SWIMS Act.
While it undoubtedly brings us joy to understand the ways that these six animals show care and love for one another, it’s not only these animals who deserve our respect and protection. Learn more about World Animal Protection’s work to protect animals in the wild and in farming, and find out how to help.
Please consider donating today to further support our work and ongoing mission to protect animals.