The Meihuashan Nature Reserve in Longyan City in east China's Fujian Province, which has been designated as the new home of the South China Tiger, began operation recently.

It was built by Longyan City in 1998 at a cost of 2.3 million yuan. With virgin forests, man-made lakes containing spring water, meadows and other vegetation, the park is 20,000 hectares in area.

An additional 12 million yuan was used to build a tiger zone in the nature reserve last year. Six tigers have been brought here to improve their ability to live in wild.

A female tiger gave birth to three baby tigers last July. Two have survived.

The central government and the government of Fujian Province will invest 18 million yuan to build tiger caves, a veterinary hospital, a herbivore breeding center and a fodder yard.

By 2010, the number of tigers at the Meihuashan Nature Reserve will be increased to 50. They are expected to be returned to nature in 10 years.

The total number of south China tigers in China is estimated at over 80, of which, 50 live in captivity and 30 live in the wild. Their number is far fewer than the giant panda, whose population stands at 1,000.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/17/2001)