The real-life Lion King: Timon the meerkat and Pumbaa the micro pig form unlikeliest of friendships

By Jessica Satherley


Best of friends: The cute meerkat and micro pig - named Timon and Pumbaa after the cartoon characters in The Lion King

It could be straight out of Disney's classic The Lion King - but this adorable couple are the real-life Timon and Pumbaa.

The cute meerkat and micro pig - named Timon and Pumbaa after the cartoon characters - have struck up the most unlikely of friendships.

Having been born within weeks of each other in Worcestershire, the black micro pig and fuzzy haired meerkat became best pals after seeing each other through a chicken wire fence dividing their pens.

Give me a kiss: Timon and Pumbaa play around with each other after becoming close pals at Tropical Inc, an education animal display company based in Dunhampton, Worcestershire

After a hesitant first meeting the hairy hombres hit it off and couldn't be separated.

And workers at Tropical Inc, an education animal display company based in Dunhampton, Worcestershire, immediately noticed a more than striking resemblance to the famous characters

Kelly Shambly, 24, an animal career at Tropical Inc, said: 'They are just like their namesakes - they have a real care free philosophy.

'They are both newborns and haven't settled into their roles within the litter yet so they are just running around enjoying themselves much like the mantra of the film.

'They showed great interest in each other from the start, almost like they were meant to be friends.

'At the time they still hadn't been named, but we soon realised we couldn't call them anything else once somebody pointed out they were just like the pair from the film.'

Miniature rascals: Kelly Shambly, 24, an animal career at Tropical Inc poses with Timon and Pumbaa

In an incredible real-life parallel to the cartoon characters, Timon is an outgoing and self-absorbed meerkat.

Kelly added: 'There was a little chicken wire fence between them and Timon was desperately trying to find a way through to get to Pumbaa.

'He is really outgoing and always looking to explore the world. He's interested in anything new, and having a big pig next to him was obviously an exciting thing.

'Pumbaa is definitely more reserved and slopes about the place in an unenthusiastic manner much like pigs often do.

'All they do each day is playfully run around. They are very cute together.


The original Timon (left) and Pumbaa (right): Pictured in the 1994 film The Lion King


'It is an extremely odd friendship, but it is great to see two animals paired together who would never get the chance to ever meet in the wild.'

Kelly, who helps run Tropical Inc, has been helping rear the young pair ever since their births around nine weeks ago.

She added: 'We take the animals to people who would not normally get the chance to get so close to different and exotic animals.

'We've put on parties for all ages - from toddlers to 70-year-old's birthday parties, but everyone loves Timon and Pumbaa equally.

'There hasn't been a time when someone hasn't mentioned the resemblance of them to the characters.'


source:dailymail