The character Emmett from the Twilight Series is by far the strongest of his vampire brood, but the Columbus Zoo cheetah cub named for him got off to difficult start in life.
Little Emmett is just 10-weeks-old and contracted pneumonia shortly after his birth at The Wilds Conservation Center in Ohio. He was recently welcomed as the newest member of a diverse family of residents at the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, but he was having trouble adapting.
Cheetahs are known to be skittish by nature, and Emmett spent the first several weeks of his life being hand-reared and nursed by humans. Acclimating to life at the zoo was a major adjustment for the sickly little cub.
That is, until Cullen entered the picture! The 7-week-old Yellow Lab puppy is the portrait of boisterous confidence. Emmett personally chose him to act as his comfort dog, and Cullen happily took the cheetah under his paw.
Emmett and Cullen are very lucky to have found each other, because the Columbus Zoo has big plans for them. Now that Emmett is feeling better, he will begin travelling with the Jungle Jack Hanna Team as an ambassador for cheetahs in the wild. Thanks to the calming effect he has on Emmett, Cullen will be joining him on the road as his companion dog!
Emmett and Cullen are scheduled to make their first major appearance with Jack Hanna in Florida this weekend! Wish them luck!
You may be able to catch a peak of these adorable BFFs at the zoo’s Animal Encounters Village on weekends when they aren’t travelling. Follow the Columbus Zoo on Facebook for updates on their viewing times.
Emmett and Cullen are just 2 of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium residents named after the hit book series and movie saga, Twilight.
