Plea to clear traps that threaten tigers
Source: Xinhua |
November 3, 2011, Thursday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THE World Wildlife Fund yesterday urged China to clear animal traps to protect endangered tigers in the northeast of the country.
A WWF official made the call days after a Siberian tiger was found dead with a trap around its neck in Mishan City, Heilongjiang Province.
Traps still pose a major threat to wild Siberian tigers and their prey, according to Zhu Jiang, director of the WWF's northeast China Program office.
A WWF survey found an average of 1.6 traps in every 10 kilometers in the Siberian tiger nature reserves in Heilongjiang and neighboring Jilin provinces last winter, Zhu said.
He added: "WWF hopes to cooperate with local governments to protect Siberian tigers and restore their habitats. We aim to help double the population of wild Siberian tigers in China by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger."
Last month a villager in Mishan found a dead Siberian tiger near a reservoir. Researchers found a steel wire around its neck, although they believe the animal did not suffocate but died of hunger as the trap prevented it from hunting and eating.
The reservoir lies between two major potential habitats for Siberian tigers, and if better managed could serve as a migration corridor.
Siberian tigers are among the rarest animals. Their population is estimated at 500, mostly in Russia's far east and China's northeast. China is thought to have only 20 in forests in Heilongjiang and Jilin.
A WWF official made the call days after a Siberian tiger was found dead with a trap around its neck in Mishan City, Heilongjiang Province.
Traps still pose a major threat to wild Siberian tigers and their prey, according to Zhu Jiang, director of the WWF's northeast China Program office.
A WWF survey found an average of 1.6 traps in every 10 kilometers in the Siberian tiger nature reserves in Heilongjiang and neighboring Jilin provinces last winter, Zhu said.
He added: "WWF hopes to cooperate with local governments to protect Siberian tigers and restore their habitats. We aim to help double the population of wild Siberian tigers in China by 2022, the next Year of the Tiger."
Last month a villager in Mishan found a dead Siberian tiger near a reservoir. Researchers found a steel wire around its neck, although they believe the animal did not suffocate but died of hunger as the trap prevented it from hunting and eating.
The reservoir lies between two major potential habitats for Siberian tigers, and if better managed could serve as a migration corridor.
Siberian tigers are among the rarest animals. Their population is estimated at 500, mostly in Russia's far east and China's northeast. China is thought to have only 20 in forests in Heilongjiang and Jilin.
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