In a zoo in California recently, a mother tiger gave premature birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger, after recovering from the delivery, began to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter might be the cause of her adepression. They believed that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with other zoos across the country, no tiger cubs of the right age were available to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try a new approach. In some circumstances, a mother of one species has been known to take on the care of a different species. The only orphans that could be found quickly were a litter of wiener pigs. The zoo keepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed the babies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops? You won't believe your eyes!