Harbin Citizens Adopt Siberian Tigers

Many people in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, are becoming enthusiastic about adopting Siberian tigers at the city's noted scenic spot Sun Island.

Zhang Chengzhong, director in charge of the Siberian Tigers Park on the island in the Songhua River, said that yesterday a middle school student named Zhang Qingzhuo adopted a one-month-old tiger.

The student used to visit the park and she liked Siberian tigers very much. When she said she would like to "adopt" a tiger, the park official accepted her donation.

Now, each year the girl will donate 500 yuan for the upkeep of her adopted tiger named Zhuozhuo.

After the student's adoption, more than 200 people phoned the park to express their interest in adopting other tigers, and about 50 of them registered to do just that.

The park occupies 360,000 sq.m. and is home to 70 tigers. Zhang Chengzhong said the care of one tiger for a year takes about 30,000 yuan a year.

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