Virally Cute Videos [Edit]

“Interspecies Love” is one of the cornerstones of the viral pass-along phenomenon.  A cousin to the overwhelmingly cute “Baby Animals” email so popular in the 90’s, this imagery seems to have a profound ability to capture the hearts (and emails) of friends, relatives and co-workers alike.

So why is Interspecies Love just so damn touching?  I asked myself this question after being forwarded (several times) this astonishing video about 2 men and their reunion with a lion cub they raised and then released to the wild.  I watched it in a cafe and by the end of the video, 6 people had gathered around my screen and all were crying.

Whether it’s a lion kissing a tourist, a giant bear cuddling a newborn baby, the “it’s so cute I could die” video of a baby hippo raised by an old turtle, or a dog nursing baby tigers—there is just no doubting the emotional impact of seeing two different species coming together and showing some love.

I came across the answer when I discovered this amazing photo of two tiny insects, separated from their pack, sharing a quiet sip of water together.  It made me realize why the Olympics were born and why so many religions talk about “the peaceful kingdom.” They remind us that our planet is really not so big, and all creatures (whether 2, 4 or 8 legged) can happily coexist.