Zoo-keepers in China say they were shocked when a group of tiger cubs made friends with some newborn chicks.

Workers at Zhejiang Wenling Zoo in Taizhou city put the chicks in a cage with the four month-old tiger cubs.

“We wanted to bring out the savage nature of the tigers while they were still cubs.”

But keepers were surprised to see the tigers initially shy away nervously from the chickens.

“Then in no time, they started playing together. Maybe in their eyes, there are no enemies, only friends,” added the spokesman.