Experts from the State Forestry Administration have sketched out
a detailed plan and delimited a 200,000 square kilometer region to
search for the nation's wild South China tigers in a bid to appease
recently sparked rumors about the existence of the mammal.
China News Service reported that Cao Qingyao, a spokesman of the
administration, said an initial group consisting of 10 specialists
had concluded a general survey of local households and terrain
around Zhenping county, once a major habitat of the precious tigers
in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Experts have looked over previous evidence that the wild tigers
still exist, said Cao, who unveiled the searches developments while
taking part in an online interview with China Central Television.
He adds that experts will also conduct studies of other animals
living in the area during their search.
Researchers will be in the right place when observations
commence after a possible first snow in the region in December and
will have the support of infrared shooting equipment to help them,
said Cao, adding that the radius is to be enlarged if
necessary.
Earlier reports claimed experts had discovered some footprints
similar to the tigers' in the area and that further study was well
under way.
But the watchdog insists that the results of the search will not
be revealed until the completion of cross-season research next
year.
South China tigers, only living in China, have been listed an
endangered species worldwide for many years and are believed by
many to have completely disappeared in the wild.
People restored part of their confidence in the existence of the
tiger in the wild after a farmer, Zhou Zhenglong, was reported to
have shot dozens of photos of a wild South China tiger in the
forest near his home in Zhenping County last October.
In his pictures, a big cat is resting in a lush forest with part
of its face hidden.
The photos were widely published online and touted by the media
as the first real evidence of the animals' existence in the wild
for over 43 years. However, subsequent inconsistencies triggered
heated dispute over the authenticity of the photos.
Some people believe the photos were counterfeited using
technical means, which was later backed up by an alleged link
between the photos and some original tiger paintings.
(CRI November 29, 2007)
