Zookeepers have stepped in to play foster mother after a young tigress gave birth to three cubs but refused to tend to the newborns.

White tigress ‘Rupa’ gave birth to two white cubs and a normal cub on March 11 at Nandankanan Zoological Park in eastern mother.

Rupa, who is just 3.5 years old, and was giving birth for the first time rejected them all forcing the zoo officials to hand-rear the cubs. They are feeding milk to the cubs, keeping them comfortable and monitoring their condition round the clock.

Dr. Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra, Biologist of Nandankanan Biological Park, said: "Maternal rejection is not uncommon among first time tiger mothers. The same mother can be found caring for her cubs in subsequent litters. Both the mother and the cubs are doing well so far.”