BEIJING - A farmer in southern China found twin black bear cubs while out picking tea leaves. He was planning to raise them until they were big enough to fend for themselves until an animal welfare group stepped in.

China Central Television reported Saturday that the tea farmer heard the newborn animals crying in the forest two weeks ago. The report said he brought them home without realizing they were bears.

CCTV said he fed them milk, rice powder and egg yolks. He wanted to keep them until they were large enough to hunt but a local animal welfare organization is planning to release them back into the wild sooner.