Abandoned boy suckles from cow after parent leave

A Cambodian man said his young grandson has lived partly on milk he suckles directly from a cow since he saw a calf do the same.

Um Oeung said 20-month-old Tha Sophat started suckling the cow in July after the boy's parents left their rural village in search of work.

Um Oeung said he pulled the boy away at first. He relented after his grandson protested loudly and the boy has suckled the cow's milk once or twice a day since then.

Tha Sophat has lived with his grandparents in Siem Reap province in north west Cambodia since his parents moved to Thailand looking for work.

Um Oeung said the cow doesn't mind the boy suckling but he is worried about his grandson's health if he continues.