Three tiger cubs abandoned by their mother have found an unusual replacement - a white Swiss Shepherd dog called Tallim.

The cubs were rejected by their natural mother, a tigress called Bagira, soon after their birth in a Russian zoo on November 14.

The Oktyabrsky zoo in the Black Sea resort of Sochi immediately advertised the vacant position of a tiger mother on the internet.

Staff had been prepared for the situation because Bagira had abandoned two other newborn cubs five months previously.

They found a white Swiss Shepherd dog from Yeysk, in the Krasnodar region, to take over.

The canine is now feeding and nurturing the three cubs - two males named Olymp and Dar and one female named Talli after her adoptive mother.

Although the tiger cubs initially showed their claws and hissed, Tallim nursed them patiently and afterwards showered them with attention, nudging them playfully.


The zoo staff say the tiger cubs do not pose any threat to their adoptive mother.(Source)