An African lion has abandoned the three white cubs she gave birth to on July 4 at a zoo in Jiaozuo, Henan Province – leading the new arrivals to be raised by an altruistic pair of dogs.

Though the father and mother lions both bear thick pelts of yellow fur, the cubs were born snow-white and show no signs of reverting to a more normal shade, joining the tiny estimated population of only 500 white lions worldwide.

Lion attendant Wang Lijun said that after giving birth, the mother lion refused to nurse the cubs, leading Wang to employ the two dogs donated by local citizens, as dog milk is nutritionally similar to lion milk.

Wang also reported that these cubs are in perfect health and growing normally.

www.chinanews.com