Few things are sweeter than overcoming long odds in the name of friendship. So for Valentine’s Day — or should we say Pal-entine’s Day, nope, we shouldn’t — we’ve rounded up a bunch of mismatched furry, feathery and scaly best-friend duos. Ever seen a giraffe and an ostrich hanging out? Now you will.

These guys aren’t just cute — although, rest assured, they are definitely cute. Studying their interactions might help scientists understand more about how animals communicate and form bonds. We may think animals’ ability to make friends is completely obvious (just watch how much fun this cheetah and dog have together) but only a few decades ago using the word “friendship” to describe two baboons was somewhat shocking to the animal research community.

Knowing more about how these guys interact across species lines can aid our efforts to communicate with other species. That’s in addition to fostering new respect for other intelligent beings. Take a look at some of our favorites below.