Special Zone Set up to Protect Rare Tiger SpeciesA 700-ha zone was opened Tuesday for South China tigers in the Meihua Mountains in southeast China's Fujian Province as part of a national effort to protect the rare tiger species from extinction.The Meihua South China Tiger Zone, believed to be a natural habitat for the most endangered tiger species, is located in the State-level Meihua Nature Reserve. A 1990 survey conducted by China's State Forestry Administration and the World Wildlife Fund showed the existence of wild South China tigers in the mountain area. A local official said China aims to turn the zone into a South China tiger nature reserve in the near future. The zone has already introduced six South China tigers from other places and plans to release them to the wild soon. Chinese zoologists estimated that there are some 20 to 30 South China Tigers in the wild. Another 53 are in captivity around the country. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |