The 48 South China Tigers in Chinese zoos have produced only one
cub this year. The rare tigers are kept in ten zoos across the
country, causing inbreeding and mating difficulties. Now experts
are ready to give the disinterested males Viagra. Two tigers in
Chongqing Zoo will be the first since the two show no sexual
desire.
The annual meeting of the South China Tiger protection society,
held Tuesday in Chongqing city in southwest China, found that their
six years' protection work has been of little help in reducing the
danger of extinction of the endangered South China Tigers.
The rare 49 tigers are kept in ten zoos across the country, causing
inbreeding and mating difficulties. Years of captivity have wiped
out both their wild nature and their sexual desire.
Cage life is the main reason for South China Tigers' infertility,
and a spot test performed in 1997 showed that among eight randomly
chosen male South China Tigers, most had low sperm counts and two
had no sperm at all, according to Xie Youxin, deputy head of
Chongqing Zoo.
The ferocious feline animals are listed among the most endangered
subspecies of tigers by international organizations and there are
only 20 to 30 wild South China Tigers in China.
The South China tiger is the most critically endangered of all
tiger subspecies. Found in central and eastern China, it is
estimated that at most only 20-30 South China tigers still exist in
the wild. Currently 47 South China tigers live in 18 zoos, all in
China.
The South China tiger is one of the smallest tiger subspecies. Male
tigers measure about 2.5 meters (8 feet) from head to tail and
weigh approximately 150 kilograms (330 pounds). Female tigers are
smaller, measuring about 2.3 meters (7 1/2 feet) long. They weigh
approximately 110 kilograms (240 pounds). The short, broad stripes
of the South China tiger are spaced far apart compared to those of
Bengal and Siberian tigers.
(
December 7, 2001)