Welcome to‘ Love Wild-land’, where survival is all about finding the perfect partner. Not because they’ re cute or funny, but because they’ re vital for survival. Let’ s meet five of nature’ s power couples who swap all kinds of gifts with each other, and without which they’ d be lost or, in some cases, eaten!
The Mountain TreeShrew & Nepenthes Pitcher Plant
Relationship Status: Dinner & Ewwwwww! In the rainforests of Southeast Asia, the mountain treeshrew( Tupaia montana) and the Nepenthes tropical pitcher plant have a rather‘ unusual’ romance. The pitcher plant’ s sugary, nectar-producing leaves smell delicious, tempting the shrew to take a slurp. But this isn’ t your regular rodent drive-through. It’ s all part of the pitcher plant’ s plan. As the shrew loads up with its tasty treats, it relieves itself straight into what looks like a toilet bowl – the plant’ s‘ pitcher’( that’ s what Americans call a jug!). This may sound a little rude, but to the pitcher plant, this little pile of poo is a natural, nitrogen-fused fertiliser snack. So it’ s dinner for two. Or is that dinner for poo?!
Nile Crocodile & Egyptian Plover
Relationship Status: Jaw-Dropping! True love is all about trust. In the wild, this relationship takes that to a whole new level. The Nile crocodile( Crocodylus niloticus) may have a smile that’ s razor-sharp, but the Egyptian plover bird( Pluvianus aegyptius) has discovered this croc’ s softer side. Bravely perching inside its open mouth, it settles in for a romantic meal by the river, picking out bits of food stuck in the crocodile’ s teeth. Dinner and dentistry all in one! Luckily, the croc knows this bird isn’ t on the menu. It’ s a helper, and hygiene is a key to happiness after all. It’ s always polite to floss before a date!
8