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True Love: Surprising Photos of Animal Affection

True Love
Photograph by Rachel Buchhloz
In the 2013 National Geographic book True Love (pictured), editor Rachel Buchholz collects stories and scenes of unexpected animal attractions—just in time for Valentine’s Day. Here online, preview 12 thought-provoking, heartstring-pulling pictures from the book.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
A Mother's Bond
Photograph by Klein-Hubert/Kimball Stock
Mother donkeys and their foals share a strong bond. Foals are weaned when they are about six months old or when the next foal is born.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Pig Friends
Photograph by Klein-Hubert/Kimball Stock
Pigs, which have been living side by side with humans for some 9,000 years, cooperate in social groups known as sounders.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Otter Love
Photograph by Tom and Pat Leeson/ardea.com
Before going hunting off the California coast, this sea otter mother secures her pup in sea kelp to keep him safe while she is away.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Arctic Love
Photograph by Norbert Rosing/National Geographic Stock
Polar bear moms may nurse their cubs for as long as three years.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Wiggles and Her Puppy Family
Photograph by Richard Gwin/Lawrence Journal World
Piglet Wiggles sleeps alongside her puppy brothers and sisters. When Wiggles was born on a farm in Kansas, her owner needed to give her away, so she went to live with a litter of newborn puppies. Wiggles soon adapted to the puppies’ lifestyle, and her new siblings accepted her as part of their family.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Sibling Love
Photograph by Terri Moore, My Shot
Spending all their time together, raccoon kits never leave the den during the first two months of their lives.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Guardian Goose
Photograph by Rebecca Grunwell/The Gisborne Herald
Highland bull Hamish and his goose pal hang out. A big Highland bull like Hamish probably doesn’t need a bodyguard, but a certain goose seems to disagree. Whenever the bull is in his pasture at Knapdale Eco Lodge in New Zealand, the goose watches for cattle that—in the bird’s opinion—get way too close.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Aunt Rosie
Photograph by Bill Garvin, courtesy Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park
Affectionately called Aunt Rosie (pictured on the left) by keepers at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Florida, this manatee has taken more than 20 young ones under her flipper, whether they were orphans or simply in need of a babysitter.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Real Romantics
Photograph by Klein-Hubert/Kimball Stock
During courtship, mature stallions and mares sniff, nuzzle, nicker, and even nip at each other.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
True Love
Photograph by Basel Zoo
Who says long-distance relationships can’t work? A stork named Romeo spends six months every year migrating to and from Africa but always returns to his mate, Julia, who lives in Switzerland.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.
Puppy Love
Photograph by Adam Harnett/Carters News Agency
Nettle, a mother dog, never worried when she needed a break from her pups. A chicken named Mabel was happy to take over as surrogate mom. Brought to live inside a farmhouse in England after a horse stepped on her foot, Mabel would fluff up her feathers, plop down on top of her brood of pups, and tuck them under her body as if they were chicks.
Purchase the official companion book True Love: Surprising Stories of Animal Affection.

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True Love: Surprising Photos of Animal Affection