These tiger cubs have found an unlikely surrogate mum – a dog.

The unusual family lives at Nanning Zoo in southern China’s Guangxi Province after the cubs mother lion was unable to care for them due to ill health.

The tiny cubs playfully fight over their next feed and happily breast feed from the dog.

A surrogate dog mother is seen caring for three newborn tiger cubs at Nanning Zoo in southern China

The art of introducing lion and tiger cubs for nursing from other species is not unusual in China.

In 2007 pictures of ‘Hunai’ feeding three tiger cubs became an internet sensation and focus for animal lovers around the world.

According to animal experts however, it is common practice for abandoned animal babies to be placed with surrogate mother’s of the same species to avoid re-abandonment at a later date.

And while it might be a dog’s life for the surrogate mother, for now however these three cubs are more than happy to cosy up to their unusual parent.

The mother lion is unable to care for her three cubs due to ill health so they had to seek help from elsewhere