The Qinhuangdao safari park in north China's Hebei province has become one of China's leading breeders of endangered creatures.

The number of green peacocks at the park, a rare species on the verge of extinction worldwide, has risen from 20 to 80 in the last seven years.

The park also breeds eight cougars, four Manchurian tigers, four bears, six camels and more than 60 spotted deer.

Other rare animals bred there include the crossoptilon mantchuricum, rare variety of pheasant indigenous to north China which has black-brown plumage and silver to blue tail feathers.

The park, sited in the Qinhuangdao National Coastal Forest Park, covers 353 hectares and is home to more than 100 kinds of animals, including elephants, giraffe, yaks, lions, tigers, spotted deer and camels.

Some animals are raised in their wild environment instead of being confined to cages in an attempt to maintain their wild nature.

(Xinhua News Agency January 14, 2003)