(CN) Habitats found for endangered Chinese Tigers

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www.chinaview.cn 2004-05-17 09:50:10

NANCHANG, May 17 (Xinhuanet) -- The new residences of the extremely

endangered Chinese Tigers have been finally unveiled after two years'

scientific inspection and research.

 

Zixi County in east China's Jiangxi Province and Liuyang City of central

China's Hunan Province were selected by International Federation for Salvage

of Chinese Tigers (SCT) as the experimental habitats for the rare animal

species.

 

Quan Li, a Britain-born-Chinese, who is the founder of SCT, says this

signifies China has taken a crucial step in saving Chinese Tigers.

 

The Chinese Tiger, from which other sub-species such as the Siberian

Tiger evolved, is a critically endangered tiger sub-species native to south

China.

 

Today, fewer than 30 Chinese Tigers remain in the wild while about 60

are kept in zoos. The total number of Chinese Tigers is even less than that

of pandas and it is listed as one of the world's ten most endangered

animals.

 

" Chinese Tigers prefer to live on the even grasslands, yet they are

forced to migrate into forests when their habitats were taken for industrial

or agricultural uses and that is why they are on the verge of extinction

now, " says Quan.

 

She says the two reserves in Zixi and Liuyang, 180 sq. km and 100 sq. km

respectively, will try to rebuild the natural environment with large

grasslands, gentle slopes, bushes and streams, where Chinese Tigers enjoyed

their life thousands of years ago.

 

Besides, natural vegetation and other animal groups will be restored

within the reserves to form a complete food chain so that Chinese Tigers, at

the top of the chain, can be fed.

 

In order to find ideal habitats for Chinese Tigers, both Chinese and

foreign experts have spent two years making the in-depth inspection and

researches in nine regions of China's four provinces and municipalities.

 

As a matter of fact, the Chinese Government has been working hard to

save the dying animal species, Quan says, but there has not been an obvious

effect owing to limited funds and technical support.

 

She says the cooperation between SCT and State Forestry Administration

(SFA) of China is the first time that China has preserved its endangered

wild animals through international collaboration.

 

The Chinese Tigers which will settle down in the habitats are bound to

be the offspring of the ones that are receiving wilderness survival skills

in South Africa, says Quan.

 

Two Chinese Tiger cubs were sent to South Africa last year to learn the

wilderness survival skills, which was a part of an agreement between SFA and

SCT.

 

An increasing number of Chinese Tigers will receive such training, says

Quan, and their wild nature is expected to be fully restored by the third or

fourth generation.

 

A South African biologist says finishing their training there, Chinese

Tigers will well live and procreate in their Chinese habitats. Enditem