Wombat And Koala Strike Up Friendship During Lockdown

AmyBrown

Jun 23, 2020 9:00 AM EDT

Be still our tender hearts! There is absolutely nothing more precious than when two different animal species become best friends!

During the COVID-19 lockdown at the Australian Wildlife Park, a koala named, Elsa, and a wombat named, Hope, shared an enclosure together.

It was during that time that they two struck up the most adorable friendship. They're now being called, "lockdown BFFs." The two marsupials were hand raised by the keepers at the Australia Reptile Park, wombats are actually the closest relative species to the koala, so their keepers figured it would be a friendship match in heaven... they were right.

Now that the park has re-opened, the keepers are making sure that the two are able to see each other every day!

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Hope and Elsa!

via Australian Reptile Park
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According to the staff, they first noticed their blossoming friendship when "Hope the wombat was housed in Elsa's enclosure when her's was being cleaned and the two would greet each other by nuzzling their noses."

via Australian Reptile Park
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"Hope is a little ray of sunshine. It's a very special friendship these two have formed and I can't wait to see it continue to blossom," said Park curator Hayley Shute.

via Australian Reptile Park
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"Elsa and Hope are great ambassadors for Australian wildlife and our wildlife needs all the help it can get," Ms Shute contined.

via Australian Reptile Park
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Just look at the love between these two cuties!

via Australian Reptile Park
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via Australian Reptile Park
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via Australian Reptile Park
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via Australian Reptile Park