Four South China tigers born in Guangzhou

Four more South China tigers have recently been bred in Guangzhou Zoo after the zoo successfully bred one cub in April.

The South China tiger is a tiger subspecies that are found in the provinces of Fujian, Guangdong, Hunan and Jiangxi. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 1996, and is possibly extinct in the wild since none have been recorded since early 1970s.

A cute South China tiger bred in Guangzhou Zoo. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]

From 1976-77, Guangzhou Zoo introduced two South China tigers from Shanghai, one male and one female and in 1980, twin tiger cubs were born. As of now, the zoo has raised 30 South China tigers and bred 13 cubs.

On Oct 25, a special wild animal research center was founded in Guangzhou Zoo and the zoo signed cooperation agreement with Sun Yat-sen University, Northeast Forestry University, South China Agricultural University as well as Guangdong Institute of Applied Biological Resources to seek cooperation for the protection of wild animals.  

Guangzhou Zoo has become a significant base for South China tiger reproduction and research. Currently, the zoo is conducting research on genomics and genetic diseases of South China tigers which will hopefully help solve the tiger's reproduction problems and prevent them from certain diseases. 

A staff member of Guangzhou Zoo holds the two tiger cubs bred in Guangzhou Zoo recently. [Photo/gzdaily.dayoo.com]