A wounded Siberian tiger which killed a woman after breaking loose from a trap in northeast China's Jilin Province, has died of blood poisoning despite all-out efforts to save its life.

The tiger's throat was severely damaged when it was caught in a trap set by poachers.

The injured animal was taken to a local hospital, where it underwent two operations on February 3 and 6 and received large dosages of antibiotics before it died on February 10.

This is the first time an injured wild Siberian tiger has been treated in China. Nearly 20 experts came from Beijing, Harbin and other big cities to work out an effective resuscitation plan for the unusual patient.

The tiger was found dying close to the body of a woman on February 3 in Hunchun Nature Reserve, which is located at the juncture of China, Russia, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

Yang Chunyan, the victim, came across the tiger while walking home with three friends. Unable to escape as quickly as the others, she was killed by the pain-maddened tiger, which had been wounded by a device alleged to have been set by poachers, according to local officials.

The dead woman's three friends survived.

The Siberian tiger is one of the world's ten most-endangered species. There are only about 300 living in the wild.

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2002)