Caring chimpanzee bottle feeds tiger cubs at Thai zoo
Last updated 8/1/2011 9:27:43 AM
Caring chimpanzee bottle feeds tiger cubs at Thai zoo
They're not natural allies in the wild perhaps but that hasn't stopped a chimpanzee taking a paternal interest in the care of two tiger cubs in Thailand.
The caring male chimp, named Dodo, is bottle feeding the cubs at the Samut Prakarn Crocodile Farm and Zoo.Two-and-half-year-old Dodo cares for the tiger cubs, aged between three weeks to five months after being trained to do so by staff.
Zoo worker Sirinaj explained: "It's not difficult as he knows how to hold the bottle. I just taught him to hold it and stay with the cub. I've been teaching him everyday so he can do it."
Chimps will be chimps of course and the only issue is when Dodo ignores his feeding responsibilities in favour of playing with the cubs.But fear not the tigers in Dodo's care will be moved to an area more suited to their size when they outgrow him.