Two golden tigers, a snow tiger and white tiger raised by a dog (picture)
This is a striking photograph of a dog mothering four rare tiger cubs: two golden tigers, a snow tiger and a white tiger. It’s in China. I just think it makes a fantastic photograph. The coat contrasts are amazing. You will note that there appears to be a puppy at the end of the queue on the right hand side. I wonder whether this puppy belongs to the mother. I think (s)he does.
P.S. One downside: these cubs were bred in captivity and inbred almost certainly so in reality the background to this photo is not good. It is exploitation ultimately. If I am incorrect please tell me.
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The mothers are captive. Taking away the cubs so early means the mothers are likely to come on oestrus quickly and will breed again. Fostering the cubs on a dog means they will be handled by humans from that early stage (which is impossible if they are left with the mother).
Thanks Sarah. It’s Chinese style tiger exploitation – the world’s most sophisticated.
This method has been used since Hagenbeck’s menagerie in the late 1800s, or earlier.
I agree Michael, the backstory to the photo probably isn’t a happy one.
Where are the mother tigers? Killed by hunters, drugged-up and exploited for ‘visitor experiences’ with tourists? Or is it the usual story at some zoos/sanctuaries, where the mother is often deprived of her off-spring so that staff can hand-raise them to use as ‘ambassadors’.