Abandoned Newborn Reportedly Found Cuddling With Puppies in a Field

An abandoned newborn baby was reportedly found cuddling with a littler of puppies in an Indian field.

According to News.com.au, the baby—who has since been named "Akanksha"—was found in the Saristal village of Lormi, a city in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. A group of villagers was "heading out for their daily chores," when they heard the baby's cries.

Upon finding Akanksha, they noticed that she'd been left without any clothing and that her umbilical cord was still attached, the news website continued.

They also discovered a dog and its puppies cuddled up to Akanksha, an act that one local believes potentially saved the baby's life.

"It's possibly the warmth from puppies and their mother itself who had kept this newborn alive. Usually, the temperature dips at night and it's already December. I must say, it's her sheer luck," said one local, according to Unilad.

Some dogs can, and do, form bonds with babies and protect them; however, these bonds typically form between domesticated dogs and their owners' children.

Animal trainer Shelby Semel told Romper that dogs "bond tightly with their human pack." As a result, some dogs might "regard a baby as the latest addition to its own personal animal den."

"[D]ogs are keenly aware of the hierarchy within their pack and are instinctively wired to watch over the weaker members. So they correctly identify the drooling, flailing creature that's been brought into the home as not exactly being the alpha, and in need of their protection," said Romper.

The villagers immediately contacted the health department, and Akanksha was taken to a nearby hospital, Unilad reported.

Akanksha was then referred to the Childline Project, "a non-government organization in India that focuses on children in need of care and protection," said News.com.au.

Meanwhile, a police search for Akanksha's parents is currently underway.

"They are not parents, they are criminals. It is a miracle only to find newborn baby surviving when stray dogs are lurking every now and then at the dead of the night," a local named Premnath reportedly said of the situation.

Earlier this month, a newborn baby boy was found abandoned outside of an apartment complex in Memphis, Tennessee.

Newsweek reported that the baby was thought to only be a few hours old, as its umbilical cord was still attached.

The baby was left outside in 50-degree weather and was transported to the hospital in critical condition. Despite the chilly weather, the child was later determined to be healthy and released from the hospital.