This incredible story involves a lion cub, a mother dog, and her puppies. This lion cub was born in a Sri Lankan zoo. Unfortunately, it did not have a good start in life since his mom rejected him.
His mom refused to feed him, which was a big problem for him. This deeply worried his caretakers. The cub’s caretakers thought of an idea that they thought might work. It is unconventional, but they wanted to try something out of the box.
The caretakers found a mother dog who has recently given birth. They added the lion cub to her litter to see if the mother dog would nurse it. At first, the mother dog rejected the cub as well.
It was an instinctive reaction. Fortunately, that did not last long. After about five to six hours, the mother dog had a change of heart. She must have sensed that the cub needed a temporary mother and family.
The mother dog welcomed the lion cub into her family and nursed it. It was a rare sight! How often does someone see a dog nurse a lion cub?
The animal’s caretakers were happy that their plan worked. The lion cub was able to get the nutrients that he needed. He even gained a family as he loves playing with his dog siblings.
The lion cub stayed with the family for about three weeks. After that, he was transferred to a zoo, where he remained for a long time. When he got older, he was moved to a sanctuary. It is a more peaceful place for the lion.
The mother dog’s owner, Heshan Mendis, would sometimes visit the lion. It delighted him that the lion still recognized him. The lion knew that he once stayed in Heshan’s house, where he was welcomed.
That family of dogs saved him. It was not difficult for him to remember Heshan because he was one of the reasons he survived.
Source BBC News via YouTube