In what is perceived to be unnatural, a Cambodian child has regularly been sucking the milk of a cow for the last three months and is partly surviving on it.

The 20-month old boy, Tha Sophat, was abandoned by his parents and is now living with his grand parents in a village in the Siem Reap province in northwest Cambodia.

The boy’s grandfather Um Oeung said that the kid first saw a calf sucking the cow three months ago and started doing the same. “When I noticed it, I dragged him away but he protested loudly and ran towards the cow several times,” said the old man.

“I allowed the boy to suck the cow as he was crying loudly but he made it a habit since then and now once or twice daily he sucks the cow milk directly,” he said, adding , “when  the cow doesn’t mind, why I should I object?”

The old man told journalists that the boy’s parents left for Thailand leaving the child with him. “I am not worried with the boy sucking the cow but I am deeply worried his health may spoil as it is not a good habit.”