Read this- very cute

[bk_blue]

from www.news.com.au. Not strictly about the dog, but yet another example of what amazing creatures dogs are! :D
I wonder why they crossbred lions and tigers? thoughts?

Lion-tiger cub suckled by dog
August 29, 2002

A LION at Nanjing Zoo in eastern China has given birth to the country's first tiger-lion hybrid cub, which is being suckled by a dog, state media said today.

Born to the lion Tiantian, the cub, with a lion's body and colouring of a tiger, was rejected and left hungry about eight hours after birth.

"A female black dog was introduced to the cub and now feeds the tiger-lion once every two hours, occasionally stopping to groom her adopted 'puppy'," said the Xinhua news agency.

The cub, which weighed 1.1kg at birth - similar to other big cat cubs - is in good condition and now weighs 1.2kg, the report said.

Due to a lack of space at the zoo, lions and tigers are raised together for about three years, including Tiantian, another lion and five tigers.

Experts said it was uncertain whether the tiger-lion cub could survive.

The Associated Press

[bk_blue]

Sad in a way isn't it. What can you do though.. get the animals neutered (can you do that with large cats?)? I have no idea if that's even an appropriate solution- the best thing would be to have lots of room for these beautiful creatures. There probably is a lot we'll never be told about the health of the cub either :-?
but the dog hey! 8)

[Guest Anonymous]

What a great mother dog! It is amazing how some have such a strong nurturing instinct!
:D
On the other hand, it sounds like that so called zoo has no business breeding animals it has no room for! :evil: :x
Doesn't sound like a healthy environment for the animals to me. :cry:

[Rowie-the-Pooh]

:o :x :evil:

Why are they breeding hybrids in the first place?!

Why do they want to mix? For "experimenting"?

SOME PEOPLE!!!!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

Did you know that a lion-tiger or Tiger-lion hybrid can't breed? Just like a mule!

It's sad that they have "no room" for the animals, Lions and Tigers aren't ment to live toghether! They are from two totaly differnent places! :cry:

What a wonderful world we live in! :x

But the Black mother dog did a good deed! I wonder if the "liger" or "tion" will bark when he grows up?? :D 8)

[Aroura]

Did it happen accidently or was it artificial?
Want to know why people do it? I'll tell you why!!!! People just love to play god and when things go wrong its always someone elses fault, thats why! :evil:

Bk, went to the link, obviously the new has changed. It was funny, they had a story about the Bulldogs not being able to play in the finals (sad, isn't it :( ) And just while I was reading it it came on the news!!! :lol:

[bk_blue]

Can't say I care too much about the NRL Aroura! More like AFL, being a Vic and all... :wink:
I'm not sure if the mating was intentional. You can imagine that if the lions and tigers are caged together than that sort of thing is going to happen. :evil: I didn't know the hybid can't breed though that is probably a good thing, to discourage the whole lion-tiger-whatever animal mixing business from happening. I agree, the ANIMALS at the zoo should come first, not the visitors or the profits, but when does animal welfare in places like zoos ever take priority? Only when it suits humans. :x