BY ALEXANDER HICKMAN, Sophomore
BLYTHEWOOD - Three weeks ago, a cheetah cub, Emmet, recovered from pneumonia and was introduced to a puppy, Cullen, to help in his rehabilitation at Ohio’s Columbus Zoo and Aquarium.
Riverbanks Zoo Interpretive Educator Kat Feingold explained how and why the Columbus Zoo utilized animal companionship. Feingold also discussed how Emmet and Cullen will be treated in the future, specifically about feedings.
Feingold said the standard procedures for introduction of animals regardless of species differentiation.
“There is a period of introduction where the keepers slowly introduce… use smell by putting objects with the other animals scent in their enclosure, next they put them in close to each other so they can get used to the sounds the other animal makes… they are moved to a cage with bigger mesh separating them so they can see each other, then an even bigger mesh so they can physically interact if they choose to… finally they put them into the same enclosure,” Feingold said.
Feingold also addressed the topic of why a dog out of all other animals was chosen to be the companion animal.
According to Feingold, “The point of a companion animal is to help… Dogs are very adaptable and the puppy will adhere to the cheetah cub’s pattern.” Cullen was chosen because of this ability to follow Emmet’s schedule while also providing the nurturing support necessary so Emmet can fully recover.
Dogs and cheetahs eat different foods, so a schedule would be adapted to take this nutritional difference into account.
“First they would try to feed them together; but if they have trouble then the animals will eat at different times in a mesh cage, so they can still interact,” Feingold said.
Blythewood High School Psychology teacher Ben Ehrlich added information about the human psychological side, particularly with regards to public interest and naming of the animals.
Emmet is named for a jokester vampire in the “Twilight” series; while Cullen is his surname.
About the use of names from a popular TV series.
“Maybe it makes the names more memorable and likely to stick. Therefore, people may have one of those random moments where they think of the animals and decide they'd like to go visit,” Ehrlich said.
Doctor Linda Haugh, Ph.D. Psychology, Professor Emeritus Thomas-Nelson, Hampton, Va. further elaborated about the human psychological effect of this event.
With regards to this unusual animal pair resulting in increased zoo visitations Haugh said, “Public interest would find it fascinating, because they are natural enemies… predator vs. prey.”
The intended outcome is for the cheetah to be calmer and more confident because of interaction with the puppy.
“Some research shows that it is possible… nature vs. nurture argument.. Similar human research in prisons demonstrates that when an inmate is allowed to care for a dog, this relationship leads to the inmate being calmer,” according to Haugh.
Haugh described why Emmet and Cullen are traveling around with Jungle Jack Hanna.
“The more people who become interested in other creatures, the more likely they will want them to survive and continue to live,” according to Haugh.
As a last remark on the possible societal impacts of this animal companionship Haugh said, “The cheetah cub and puppy are a good model for human cooperation.”
Hopefully, Emmet will continue to have a good recovery, and Cullen will continue to make the news as a role model for cooperation amid diversity even if it results from random thoughts associated with “Twilight” names.
