Tiger and piglets. I was asked to post this

[enlightenment]

after I mentioned it in another thread. It's made the rounds, I guess, though this is the first I've seen it - and the story attached to the email isn't true, according to Snopes, but the pictures are cute. So here is the truth (via snopes) and the story, with the pictures, for the DUer who wanted to see them.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/tigerpig.asp

The story that makes the rounds (and pictures) below:

In a zoo in California , a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set of triplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in the pregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size, they died shortly after birth.

The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly started to decline in health, although physically she was fine. The veterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into a depression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogate another mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.

After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce to the mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something that had never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of one species will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans' that could be found quickly, were a litter of weanling 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?

[BuelahWitch]

1. OMG how adorable!

[khashka]

2. Life is fucking amazing!

Or maybe love does conquer all ?

Khash.

[Karenina]

3. I saw that request!

Thanks for honoring it!

[enlightenment]

10. You're welcome.

While not "true" it's a little more pleasant than most of the stuff on DU lately!

[MonkeyFunk]

4. Cute

but why post the debunked story, and not the true one?

[enlightenment]

8. I posted the link to the true story because it's longer

than the "tale" and the pictures I put in the post are large - I was simply trying not to create the post from hell (length wise).

I suppose I thought that by making it clear that the story was debunked and putting that link before posting the "tale" and the photos that it was sufficient. Most people click on the links.

Bottom line - I think the photos are cute. I wasn't trying to start a discussion about the questionable practices of the place that put on the show. Do I think it's slightly abhorrent on its face? Yes. But I refuse to spend 100% of my time being outraged over everything. It's tiring; it's tedious; and it makes a person extremely dull.

[Flaxbee]

5. I've seen these before (as you mentioned) but the photos still squeeze my wee little heart

and make me cry. They are wonderful - the photos of her guarding/walking behind/standing over her piglets just are amazing. And what a beautiful creature she is. I realize I'd probably get my head bitten off, but I would love to be able to touch that cat, just once, look closely at her feet, her belly, her ears....

[fortyfeetunder]

6. Definitely a great animal story

But that tiger has got to be wondering...I had three but I've not got FIVE?????

[FedUpWithIt All]

7. Today is my daughter's 9th birthday. Our plans for today were canceled

due to the lovely blizzard that has been raging for nearly a day.

Your timing on these pics was wonderful. My Lauren's only desire in life is to "live among the tigers".

I truly believe she was born to help save them.

Thank you

>>>off to print out cute tiger and piglet pictures<<<

[enlightenment]

9. Happy birthday to Lauren!

My son turned 28 yesterday!

[grace0418]

15. I understand your daughter's desire very much. I have said for years that, if there

is such a thing as heaven, it would be for me a place where I can be among animals without fear of being hurt. It would be a place where I could freely communicate and interact with them as equals. And I've always put tigers on the top of my list.

[annabanana]

11. Oh thank you thank you!

I'm glad you did it. What adorable pics..I was in the mood for just exactly this kind of gentle silliness!

[enlightenment]

12. You and me both, annabanana!

Glad they could bring a bit of sunshine for you - I know they did for me!

[Fire Walk With Me]

13. If it's true that she was hurting and that someone had this idea to take care of her

then I salute whoever did so. If it's just pigs with a tiger, it's still interesting

[grace0418]

14. Holy... Oh.. I just can't...

Those pictures make me want to just curl up and die from love. I read the real story and it is a bit disheartening, but geez louise those pictures are cute. I just love tigers so much it makes my chest hurt. I love them, love them, love the.