Panther adopted by hunting dog

Updated 10.08 Wed Jul 25 2007
Keywords: Serbia, Ridgeback, panther, zoo, animals, Belgrade

A two-week-old panther that was rejected by its mother, has been adopted by a dog.

The mother has tried to kill all of her new offspring since 1999 and staff at Belgrade zoo have a theory she may have been traumatised by the sound of bombs from Nato air strikes.

"We are sure that the panther cub will grow up with its new family despite their nature" - Vuk Bojovic

She refused to feed her latest cub, so vets paired the big cat with a Rhodesian Ridgeback who had just given birth to eight puppies.

The panther needs help from staff at feeding time because the Ridgebacks are stronger and dominate the fight for milk.

Zoo director Vuk Bojovic has admitted the panther is an unlikely member of the Ridgeback's family.

He said: "They are deathly enemies, because the panther cub's feeder is a Rhodesian Ridgeback dog. They are trained to hunt lions and other big cats, but we are sure that the panther cub will grow up with its new family despite their nature."

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