In a surprising twist at Nanning Zoo in southern China’s Guangxi Province, three newborn tiger cubs have found an unexpected caregiver—a dog.
The cubs’ mother became ill, leaving her unable to nurture them, so the zoo introduced them to a surrogate dog.
The young tigers, now thriving under the dog’s care, engage in playful tussles and nurse contentedly from their new guardian.
While this scenario may seem unusual, it’s not uncommon in China to have cubs from big cats like lions and tigers nursed by animals from other species.
This practice gained widespread attention in 2007 when photos of a dog named Hunai feeding three tiger cubs went viral, capturing the interest of animal lovers worldwide.
However, animal experts note that using surrogate mothers—often from the same species—is a common method to prevent further abandonment of young animals.
Though the surrogate dog might be living an unusual life, the tiger cubs are content with their new caretaker, forming an unlikely but heartwarming family.
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