World

Caught on Camera: Cambodian Authorities Upset After 18-Month-Old Caught Suckling From Cow

In some countries, breast feeding remains a child’s primary source of nutrients for years (it even happens in the U.S.). But what about when mom is not there? One toddler in Cambodia took matters into his own hands and decided to emulate a baby cow. Seriously. And now local authorities are reportedly not happy.

Cambodian Toddler Suckles From Cow

Tha Sophat began drinking straight from the cow when his mother left him with his grandfather in order to go find work. (Photo: AP/Heng Sinith)

This 20-month-old toddler, Tha Sophat, has been sucking straight from the cows teat since his mother and father left their hometown in Cambodia to go find work in Thailand. The Daily Mail has the story:

After he stopped breast-feeding from his mother, the boy became ill, said the 46-year-old grandfather with whom the youngster is staying.

The boy watched a calf nurse from its mother, and began to do the same thing, feeding direclty from the cow each day, Um Oeung added.

When the grandfather pulled him away, the boy cried, so he let him continue, he said.

Neighbors were disturbed and contacted the authorities who asked the grandfather to make the boy stop:

‘They blame me and have told me not to allow him to suckle from the cow anymore. They say the boy will be ashamed when he grows up and that he will be naughty,’ he said.

Since then, the grandfather has limited the suckling to once a day. The grandfather is reported as saying his grandson has remained healthy on this diet.

Comments (102)

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  • TJexcite
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:36am

    At least it was a cow and not a Rat….Malk now with vitamin R.

    Report Post » TJexcite  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:16am

      During World War 2 I lived under NAZI(yes, the REAL ones)3sw occupation and the troops ‘required’ that our farmer provide them with all the milk the cows produced at milking time. So what did the farmers do? They made it known to the local children’s parents just which cows were docile enough for us to do EXACTLY what the child in this video is doing. It was the ONLY way we got milk during our formative years. Exactly what is wrong with this? The milk is pure and the cow is relieved of the pressure collecting in the udder. By the way, when a cow was slaughtered (also for the troops use) we were lucky enough on occasion to get some of some of the leftovers – including the brains, the head and the udder which mother cooked for us to eat. It was the only meat we had seen in over six months. Stop making lite of things you don’t understand!

      Report Post »  
    • TEIN
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:00am

      From the teet or out of a glass, it comes from the same place…and my big question is..why are the authorities concerned?? Kids happy, doing nothing wrong…if the cow, parents, and grandparents don’t mind, let the little tyke be….maybe just wash the teet first…

      Report Post »  
    • Junter
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:51am

      VerySeniorCitizen. there are health concerns with doing this. In times of need I’m sure many can understand a need to resort to less accepted means of survival but, this isn’t one of them.

      Report Post »  
    • AzDebi
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 1:00pm

      I don’t know, you SUPPOSE the lil’ guy might have been THIRSTY? “Authorities Upset”?…yep, it figures!

      Report Post » AzDebi  
    • Servant Of YHVH
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 1:34pm

      @Junter
      Just asking but what level of health control is there in Cambodia? Also, kids here when they are very little will play outside and eat dirt and things like that with no ill effects. There are a lot of countries where things that we would consider filthy and nasty are commonplace there and a lot of them do not cause health problems. The only problems that they cause is that the “moral” people who decide that things that they do not like is immoral.

      Report Post » Servant Of YHVH  
    • Watchingtheweasels
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 1:47pm

      Cutting out the middleman is good business, right?

      Report Post »  
    • fcbs46
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 1:49pm

      To very senior citizen most of the writers here wouldn’t know where or how their milk comes from. They would probably grab a bulls balls to milk. Poor little know nothing’s

      Report Post »  
    • independentvoteril
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:07pm

      @JUNTER.. and WHAT makes YOU so sure that the way things are done when necessary are NOT the right way?? Look at what they do to our milk.. no point in even consuming it as it’s be stripped of all the GOOD and NATURAL thing in it.. same as they do with our so called fresh foods.. HAVE you ever grown and ate a FRESH tomato that was NOT picked green and sprayed with chemicals so they turn red on the way to the store? leafy veggies that are NOT nuked or treated with chemicals so they stay fresh IN THE STORE longer?.. I have I grow as many of my own veggies and can them I can keep lettuce in the frig for 2 weeks and it NEVER feels slimy after you wash it.. like store bought does..NOR does it turn BROWN in 2 day.. this lady has LIVED longer than MOST do now days and most likely without all the so called diseases we have plaguing our kids..SO again I ask WHO has it right?? the FDA or NATURE??

      Report Post » independentvoteril  
    • lobster
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:03pm

      We tested various foods for years. The most contaminated were the “fresh” veggies. Do you think there aren’t bacteria floating around all over the garden? Raw honey in 6 out of seven samples have botulinum. So “fresh” is not always the least contaminated. I do hope the teat had been cleaned off as mama cow gets tired and lays down where ever she wants, usually right where she or others in the herd poop. Don’t go overboard on anything.

      Report Post »  
    • Brooke Lorren
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 3:53pm

      At least he’s getting the real thing and not the processed stuff that most of us call milk. Maybe the Cambodians are upset because he’s drinking real, raw milk. The stuff that I have to drive several miles for and pay $10/gallon if I want to get some.

      Report Post »  
    • arx
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:34pm

      Junter…so a baby filling his belly with good whole milk is not “acceptable” to you because it‘s straight from the cow’s ‘dirty’ teat? Say you are the Grandpa…I suppose you would watch the baby cry from hunger? Get real.

      Report Post » arx  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:35pm

      Junter, I guess you are much younger then I am, and you were probably city born and bred. Before I was 16 I didn’t even know what pasteurization was – well befor homogonization and preservatives were added to milk before it ever came to market. When I was old enough I would sit on a three legged stool with my head against the cow’s haunches and squirt milk into a bucket which was then carried (exactly as it came from the cow) to the various homes for distribution. And yes, while there was less concern over a little dirt (‘you have to eat a peck of dirt before you die’ is an addage I learned) we were a lot more healthy, active and happy than young people are today while going out for the 700 calorie Big Mac! Today, as an octaganarian, I still dig my own garden in summer and snow in winter – and listten to my neighbors call me a cross between a workhorse and a mountain goat! The doctor checks me out once a year and I take NO medications!

      Report Post »  
    • chazman
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:16pm

      Only diff is it’s not pasturized. Same day whole milk is delicious! Straight from the tit is even better! Get over it …

      Report Post »  
    • banjarmon
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:48pm

      I grew up on raw milk…and cream so rich you could stand a spoon up in it….YUMMMMMM

      Report Post » banjarmon  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 3:19pm

      .
      I guess Cambodia doesn’t have a regulation requiring
      automated milking machines.

      Here, we just milk the taxpayers.

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Secret Squirrel
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 3:20pm

      .
      “Pass the other udder to my other brother.”

      Report Post » Secret Squirrel  
    • Armed Patriot
      Posted on September 15, 2011 at 7:19am

      Whats the big deal? He cut out the bucket and glass. Saved time and effort. I wouldnt do it with any cow, especially an American Dairy cow. Those big production dairies are disgusting. California Happy cows??? Ive seen happier prison inmates on tv.

      Report Post » Armed Patriot  
    • Leslie Anne
      Posted on September 16, 2011 at 5:36pm

      Why doesn’t the grandfather just milk the cow and give some milk to the kid?

      Report Post »  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:34am

    Unsanitary, but, that IS where milk comes from.
    God made the child smart enough to seek out the food he needs to survive.
    Someone give them a bottle and let them milk the cow.

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • Applehead
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:34am

      VERYSENIORCITIZEN,
      Thats a awesome story! Thanks for sharing! Were all so caught up so much materialism in this country we forget whats important in life! God Bless You!

      Report Post »  
    • 338_LM
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 11:24am

      Unsanitary? Right from that teat is as sanitary as you can get it. Fresh, raw, unpasteurized and not homogenized – i.e. UNMOLESTED by man. Otherwise, I agree with you. Kid shows great observation and critical thinking skills for 20 months old. Our teens in the USA should be so capable.

      Report Post »  
    • LogicalLee
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 12:20pm

      Its hardly unsanitary compared to the lifestyle they live where they barely have running water to wash with or even drink heck the teat is probably cleaner than anything else they have container wise. For a kid this young its milk that tastes good, and fills the belly.
      while you may not understand but these people dont have all the appliances you have or a refrigerator or supermarkets.
      and as for unsanitary, well Id bet there are millions of kids who have eaten dirt, picked thier gum up off of floors or food off of floors nad never gotten sick. SEE God gave us this incredible germ killing ability and if you live in a vat if anti bacterial gell all your life yours will atrophy.
      as for people who see it from a more country point of view its cute and touching.
      In my mind at least the kid is getting some damn food you moron.

      Report Post »  
    • fatjack
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 2:09pm

      LogicalLee, the sad part is our kids don’t have a clue where milk comes from.

      Report Post » fatjack  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:27am

      To Applehead. Thanks. I guaranty that I am far more healthy as an octaganarian than many teenagers in this country. Pull a carrot from the soil or pick an apple off the ground, wipe it off and eat it. Walk the beach and dig cockles (a European type of clam) with my fingers, open it up and swollow it whole, Pick wild berries, fruits, nuts, dandilions, oat grass and mushrooms (you have to know your mushrooms) and eat them all raw directly from where they are picked. Nature does things better than man! Have a great day!

      Report Post »  
    • Kansas Mom
      Posted on September 14, 2011 at 8:31pm

      VERYSENIORCITIZEN…… You’re my hero!! Seriously, there aren’t enough people like you.

      Report Post » Kansas Mom  
  • altops
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:31am

    I think ts cute and precious in any country.

    Report Post » altops  
  • Ponyexpress
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:24am

    Cool kid. A man‘s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.
    This kid will go a long way…anywhere.

    Report Post » Ponyexpress  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 12:40pm

      I was thinking the same thing — quite a good mind there. Have a problem. See a solution. Take action. “Bravo Zulu” to the kid.

      Report Post »  
  • Sara72
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:12am

    AMAZING Story…. very smart child. The cow looks fine with it, kind of like she knows…..

    Report Post » Sara72  
  • klevalt
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 9:00am

    This child is a problem-solver and regardless of his situation, has the will to survive! It is a shame that in that particular culture this child will be looked upon as “naughty”…. I think he is a VERY SMART little man!

    Report Post » klevalt  
  • Hickory
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:42am

    This is the consequence of severe hunger. Children see the basic need and they seek the basic answer which is food. At least this child knows how to survive. We have many in this country who think all food comes from McDonalds. And they are grossly overweight. When the reality of the basic needs is left up to personal ingenuity, some survive and some perish. The survivors are strong willed and will always come up on top. The McDonald diners will not survive in a world of universal hunger so, they will perish (unless Obama takes from the survivors and gives to the McDonald diners).

    Report Post » Hickory  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:50am

      Why do you think the global elitists have made sure that a lot of people are on the government dole, and not able to take care of themselves. Another aspect of population control.

      Report Post »  
  • TRILO
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:34am

    The feds must also be in Cambodia as it seems they too like to go after people who drink raw milk. People get upset and worked up over the most stupid things. Cheers to the kid!

    Report Post » TRILO  
  • Rodeoamy
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:28am

    Will never forget the story my dad told of a classmate who went home after school and suckled off the family dog. This was during the depression in a very hard-hit area. He was that hungry.

    Report Post » Rodeoamy  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:26am

    Yawn!

    Report Post » Tickdog  
  • I_Hate_Libs
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:16am

    Hey that cow has rights is this legal?

    The horror of the Democrat mind.

    Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:32am

      Yes, it is legal in most of the world. And quite nourishing to those who need that nourishment. Did you not drink milk as a child. And yes, the cow does have the right to be relieved of the pressure building up in it’s udder. I did exactly the same thing as a child during World War 2 when the NAZIS (yes, the real ones) confiscated all the milk from the farmers at milking time. And what EXACTLY does this have to do with politics and someone’s state of mind. When faced with hunger and the need for nourishment you do whatever you can to provide that nourishment – no matter what your politics!

      Report Post »  
  • SlimnRanger
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:12am

    The only problem i have with this story is the grandfather should have milked the cow and gave the milk to the toddler in a cup,so looks like the youngun did what he had to do.

    Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:34am

      What if the grandfather either wasn’t around – or didn’t have a cup. Back in the early 1940s I did EXACTLY the same thing while the cows were still in the field and before our German NAZI occupiers confiscated the milk from our farmers for the troops use.

      Report Post »  
  • SamIamTwo
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:00am

    Well for the kids sake, I hope the GF is cleaning that bag before the kid latches on.

    Report Post » SamIamTwo  
  • Ookspay
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:57am

    The cow doesn’t seem to mind. I think the kid is a flippin’ genius.

    Report Post » Ookspay  
  • TxMadMac
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:45am

    Just more lib porgressive crybaby cr@p ! Oh hurry, quick, somebody do something ! The only thing we did differently as kids was to strain the milk through cheese cloth before it was put on the table.

    Report Post »  
    • VerySeniorCitizen
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:35am

      And more often than not we drank if quick before our German (NAZI) Occupiers confiscated it from our farmers for the troops use!

      Report Post »  
  • grudgywoof
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:40am

    It‘s funny but I don’t find this offensive at all. As a matter of fact I find the child to be very intelligent to be able to pick up on this. He is surviving being abandoned by his mother and doing a fine job of it. Fresh cows milk is delicious and he likes it so what’s the big deal? Our world view is so different from those in third world countries where there is no thought of leisure or fun but just survival. Cambodia is a backwards society that will never change as long as a totalitarian government is in place so you are going to see things like this. God Bless him and his grandfather.

    Report Post » grudgywoof  
  • jaxy
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:34am

    If people milk the cow and drink the milk what’s the problem with just taking it straight from the source. This kid knows how to survive, the local authorities can be upset all they want, he’s doing what he has to do.

    Report Post »  
  • ZengaPA65
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:26am

    Good thing he didn’t see what the bull does to the cow. ^ ^

    Report Post » ZengaPA65  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:01am

    I’m sure there are worse things the govt should be upset about than a child helping himself to some fresh milk……

    Report Post » biohazard23  
  • Secessionista
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:57am

    Yeah, this has to stop immediately. We need some sort of food stamp program so that this kid can go to the store and buy milk from a grocer who marks it up who buys it from a distributor who marks it up who buys it from the kid’s grandfather who marks it up, and all along the way we need to make sure the product is safe, with plenty of government regulation giving people excuses to mark it up even more. Because, you know, so many calves die from milk poisoning every year. It’s a little known fact, many calves are lactose intolerant. This grandfather is just horrible – I bet he lets the kid eat peanuts, too. And beef. And where is the Cambodian SPCA making sure that this cow is being treated respectfully?

    Report Post » Secessionista  
    • Secessionista
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 7:01am

      I wonder if there’s an iphone app to milk the cow for him.

      Did anyone else notice that there is apparently a photographer with a camera, but the picture taking dude doesn’t seem to have enough money to just give the kid a snack, maybe a bag of cambodian cheetos?

      Report Post » Secessionista  
  • One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:56am

    If this is the only way he can feed himself than that’s that…..other than that, this is one of the sickest things I’ve ever seen.

    Milk the freaking thing for the kid grandpa, what a third world dolt.

    Report Post » One Man Progressive Wrecking Crew  
    • psadie
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 10:39am

      Agreed. I want to throw up. The kid is an 18 month old baby who knows nothing yet he does what he sees and is shown. Point to parents: Your baby is a blank sheet of paper; watch what you write on it!

      Report Post »  
    • arx
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 4:46pm

      Maybe grandpa doesn’t have a cup or clean water to wash it with. What is sick about this? It’s a baby feeding himself.

      Report Post » arx  
  • scrapadapolis
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:50am

    Looks to me like this kid is going to be somebody when he grows up.He did what he had to do knowing how to stave off hunger.

    Report Post » scrapadapolis  
  • sueflorida
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:44am

    What a wonderful child that feeds himself! The cow is very happy to furnish life saving milk to this little boy who is using common sense instead of what the media or a politician tells him to do. Suzi

    Report Post »  
    • rangerp
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:50am

      Looks to be much healthier than a diet of steady MTV, rap music, pro sports, multiculturalism from the public schools.

      Report Post » rangerp  
  • MOLLYPITCHER
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:37am

    I would laugh if one of my kids did that to my goat. That is if they didn’t get kicked and trampled!

    Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:43am

      Feed your kids raw milk and the USDA will have you arrested. How’s that for Government control?

      Report Post »  
    • M100Spiral
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 8:11am

      Well, I laughed through the article and the majority of the comments.

      Children are natural in that way. He probably misses his mother and the bonding process that occurs with breastfeeding. The article does not mention a grandma or any kind of mother figure living at the place of residence, and that is sad!

      However, I am impressed with his intelligence and courage. There are not many toddlers who would walk up to a cow and nurse. I believe most toddlers would be afraid of a large cow.

      We often read articles or read picture stories of oddly matched animals who befriend each other. Apparently, that is what happened in this situation. I have a feeling most cows would not tolerate this kind of a situation, but this cow does not seem to mind. It does not pull away. It obviously has never stepped on or hurt the little one in any way. Cows are heavy, and ones hoof would crush a toddler’s little baby feet. Maybe the cow sensed his needs and was more permitting.

      Report Post » M100Spiral  
  • Dustyluv
    Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:30am

    Looks like the United States welfare recipient….

    Report Post »  
    • bluesavage
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 6:44am

      Yep, they’re everywhere in the U.S.

      Report Post » bluesavage  
    • SouthernGentleman
      Posted on September 13, 2011 at 5:43pm

      No, they would just sit there with their hands out expecting the cow to milk herself and then give them the milk.

      Report Post »  
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