Red Panda Cubs Adopted by Mama Dog
July 20, 2009 by Heather R.
Filed under Pets
Who doesn’t love a good aww-inducing news story these days? This one in particular ramps up the warm fuzzies:
A mama dog in China has been put in charge of two rare red panda cubs after they were snubbed by their mother at a local zoo. Zoo officials said they didn’t even know the panda was pregnant and when she ignored the cubs after birth the staff scrambled to find a wet nurse.
“Her plump body and bushy hair disguised her protruding belly until the babies were born. We hurriedly went about to find a wet nurse for them.”
The cubs, who are currently just under a month old, ended up with a nearby farmer’s dog who has been so willing to nurse the duo that at times she’s even refused to nurse her own pups. Though they have yet to open their eyes they appear to be thriving and have doubled in size.
[image: zuma press]
I adore red pandas. At my local zoo, they are usually high up in a tree. Once I saw one on the ground chasing around a tiny deer in its exhibit. I’m a bit surprised the keepers didn’t know the red panda was pregnant. But yay for that dog. How sweet.