“We have never been more taken aback by such an instantaneous special bond” 💕

There’s nothing like having a best friend to lean on during life’s hardest moments, especially when you’re a tiny, defenseless animal. Take it from Kirby, a little fox cub in the United Kingdom, who was recently rescued from a dangerous situation.

“Kirby was found by the side of the road with blood around his nose and with a minimum of 500 [plus] ticks on him,” Wildlife Aid wrote on Facebook. “[W]e’re not exaggerating, they were EVERYWHERE …”

Kirby’s condition was serious, but thankfully, the Wildlife Aid team found him just in time. They took him to their headquarters and began treating him right away.

“These tiny bloodsuckers were draining the life right out of him …” Wildlife Aid wrote. “Kirby was so weak, he was unable to suckle or even swallow any milk, and on day two in care, his home carer was becoming increasingly concerned.”

A dedicated and experienced Wildlife Aid volunteer decided to care for Kirby at home, refusing to give up on the sweet boy. She gave him round-the-clock care until finally, a full day after his rescue, Kirby started to turn a corner.

“[A]fter 24 hours of supporting Kirby, providing a warm and cosy incubator, [subcutaneous] fluids throughout the day and honey on his gums to keep his sugar levels up, at 10:30 p.m. Kirby finally latched on to the bottle and began to suckle, much to his carer’s delight,” Wildlife Aid wrote.

Over the course of a week, Kirby’s condition began to improve. With his renewed appetite and the consistent care his rescuer provided, Kirby soon regained his strength, but there was still something missing: a furry friend he could relate to.

“Kirby was doing soooo much better and was now in desperate need of a playmate of a similar size,” Wildlife Aid wrote on Facebook.

To his luck, Wildlife Aid had just rescued another fox cub, Olbas, who seemed like she could be a perfect fit. Olbas was sick herself, recovering from suspected pneumonia and breathing difficulties, but the Wildlife Aid team was hopeful they would bond once she started feeling better.

A few days later, once Olbas was finally stabilized, the team introduced her to Kirby, and they were shocked by how quickly the two hit it off.

“[I]f we’re honest, we have never been more taken aback by such an instantaneous special bond,” Wildlife Aid wrote. “Olbas found so much comfort in Kirby’s company and, even though Olbas didn’t quite have the energy to play as much as Kirby would have liked, he instead became the ultimate doting big brother, always making sure she was safe and warm, and even tolerating her incessant snoring …”

You can see more pictures of Kirby and Olbas here:

Kirby and Olbas’ friendship was instantaneous and has been fueling them ever since. While Kirby continues to grow stronger each day, Olbas has sadly developed a “blue eye,” which could be an indicator that she has or is recovering from a viral infection. Thankfully, she has a doting adoptive brother to keep her company while she heals.

The Wildlife Aid team hopes to see Kirby and Olbas grow strong enough to be released back to their habitats one day. Until then, they’ll keep enjoying seeing the fox cubs’ best friendship blossom one day at a time.

“It truly melts our hearts to see how far the pair has come together, and we’re all keeping our fingers crossed that they will continue to go from strength to strength,” Wildlife Aid wrote.