A boy in the Cambodian village of Koak Roka has gained worldwide attention for suckling milk directly from a cow's udders, Reuters reports.

The child, who is nearly two years old, was left in his grandfather's care after his mother and father traveled to Thailand in search of work. He grew ill without his mother's milk until he decided to feed directly from the family cow.

His 46-year-old grandfather, Um Oeong, has limited the toddler's feedings after earning scorn from other villagers. “They blame me and have told me not to allow him to suckle from the cow anymore," he said. "Our neighbors call him ‘cow boy.’ I’m afraid he will be ashamed and will do naughty things and fight them when he grows up."

Still, Oeong insists that the boy is healthy. "His health is fine, he is strong and he doesn't have diarrhea," he said.

[Reuters]