On November 22 Zhu Julong, vice director of Shaanxi Forestry Office, displayed 71 original pictures of a South China tiger to prove that the pictures are not reworked images based on a commercial New Year picture of a tiger.

Original editions make their debut

Zhu Julong unveiled all the original pictures of the South China tiger, reportedly taken by a farmer in Shannxi Province a month ago. Last week, a netizen posted a commercial New Year picture of a tiger that hangs on the wall of his home. The netizen claimed that the farmer's pictures are fakes.

Zhu also carefully compared the differences between the original editions and the New Year picture. "If the photos were modeled on the New Year picture, how can we explain the differences in the tiger's appearance?" Zhu asked.

Police investigation may follow

The photographer, a farmer named Zhou Zhenglong, reported to the police that he had been falsely accused. The local police took his statement and asked Zhou to wait.

"This means that the New Year picture and all the original photos will be under the supervision of the police staff. The controversy will come to an end after the investigation by the police is finished," Guan Ke, director of the Information Center of Shaanxi Province, said.

Dispute between the pros and cons

"We believe that the pictures are valid and real after making the identification. At least we have not found any relative evidence to say that the pictures are counterfeit," Guan stated. He also emphasized that the Shaanxi Forestry Office is the most authoritative departmental office in identifying animal resources in Shannxi Province.

But Liu Lin, who has been engaged in photographic studies for quite a long time, is still skeptical about the farmer's photographs. Liu has raised doubts about their authenticity in terms of color, proportion and clarity.

(China.org.cn, by Yang Xi, November 23, 2007)