May 24, 2011: Dog Suckles Ligers
 

http://cellar.org/2011/ligers.jpg

Four cubs were born at the Xixiakou Wildlife Zoo earlier this month but only two survived. The mother stopped feeding the cubs after a few days so the dog, which had recently had its own puppies, was enlisted to help. Ligers are extremely rare and are thought to only be born in captivity. Zoo spokesman Cong Wen said it was not clear why the tiger had stopped feeding her cubs, the Associated Press reports. But she said that after some initial problems, the pair were feeding well from their canine stepmother. Although they are a different species, tigers and lions are able to breed together. Ligers are the largest known cat, usually growing much larger than either parent.

That sounds like an insult down south: Your dog suckles ligers!

Also, it would have been better if they had found a bear to be the nurse.

Would've been really cool if it had been a lamb.


But that might've precipitated the rapture. :D

By the way, how do you pronounce the name of that zoo?

Zie Zay Koo

Is my guess.

Right after that picture was snapped the attendants ate the dog.

Ha! The look on that dogs face is precious! "Like, srsly? I'm nursing ligers??!!"

there's video tooo!

That's fucking unnatural. Next thing you know, black people and white people will be marrying!;)

see - now that's funny!

While there is a small, isolated remnant population of Asian Lions, I would guess the main reason thea Ligers are only born in captivity is sort of like why Polar Bears don't eat Penguins.

They feel underdressed without a tuxedo?

Despite the fact I accept and believe many of the issues raised by the anti-milk lobby, the one which has never really resonated with me is, "No other animal feeds off a different animal's milk, apart from humans."

But I guess ligers pretty much get to do what they want anyway.

Bravo Sarge! Thanks for keeping the IOTD going.

That dog is fairly bearish looking. Fatten her up a bit and she'd almost pass as a small black bear.