A rare display of interspecies care has delighted visitors at Changlu Tourism and Leisure Expo Park in Foshan, Guangdong Province, where an African lioness briefly looked after one of three newborn Siberian tiger cubs.

The tigress gave birth to triplets slightly earlier than expected in the park's shared Lion and Tiger House. During labour, she moved away after delivering the first cub, allowing the lioness, which has lived alongside the tigers since infancy, to instinctively care for the newborn by grooming it.

Keepers quickly intervened, separating the adult lions and tigers before placing all three cubs in an incubator for specialised care. The park stressed that the cub was never in danger.

The lions and tigers in the enclosure have lived together peacefully for six to seven years after being raised side by side. Veterinary checks confirmed the tiger triplets are healthy and developing normally. They will eventually be introduced to the shared enclosure as they grow older.