(Washington, D.C. – December 22, 2010) Yankees and Red Sox. Leno and Conan. Rosie and Donald Trump. While some rivals may never get along, life occasionally throws us for a loop and unlikely species form amicable bonds. In the animal kingdon. there are some relationships that truly defy the natural order and demonstrate an “evolution” that might astound Darwin himself.

On Friday, January 7, 2010 at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the National Geographic Channel celebrates peace in the new year by traveling the world in search of nature’s oddest couples in a gresh installment of Unlikely Animal Friends 2. We’ll take a fun-filled look at the astonishing relationships forged by otherwise rival species and find out how they came to be friends. The stories are rare, amazing…and often adorable!

At a wildlife rehabilitation center outside of Atlanta, Ga., a lion, tiger and even a bear live harmoniously together. The trio of animals were rescued as cubs and raised as brothers. While each has his own dynamic personality and his own set of lethal weapons, the three eat, play and sleep together. The situation doesn’t go without concern. As Craig Saffoe, acting curator of lions and tigers at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo, explains, “I wouldn’t advocate sticking a bear in the middle of a group of big cats. However, for these individuals, it certainly seems like the most responsible action for them and their welfare, their quality of life, would be to leave them as the are; they’re bonded.”