A recent investigation has further refuted claims that a South China tiger was photographed in Zhenping County of northwestern China's Shaanxi Province in 2007, and that the tigers exist in the wild around that area, China's State Forestry Administration announced on its website on Tuesday.

Zhou Zhenglong, who was accused and found guilty of faking photographs of a critically-endangered tiger species in the wild, stands second trial Monday, Nov 17, 2008 in northwest China's Shaanxi Province. [cnwest.com]

The investigation, which experts on wild animals and forestry began in 2007, found no trace of wild South China tigers within an area of about 2,157 square kilometers around the county.

It also concluded that the natural environment in and around Zhenping County could not support long-term survival of a minimum viable population of South China tigers.

Zhou Zhenglong, a farmer in Zhenping County, claimed to have photographed a wild South China tiger in 2007. The photo was later proven to be false. Zhou was sentenced to two and a half years in prison on three years probation and was fined 2,000 yuan, or about 292 U.S. dollars.