In Last Chance to See (https://www.amazon.com/Last-Chance-See-Douglas-Adams/dp/0434...) there is a story of a baby bird that couldn't imprint on the person who raised him, but did imprint on the yellow glove he was fed with.

As an adult, the bird did not recognize his own species, but did recognize the glove and was willing to mate with it.

Since the species in question was severely endangered, this was seen as useful as a way to try to keep the species alive.