Conservationists launch 'food aid' for Siberian tigers
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E-mail Xinhua, February 9, 2012
Wildlife conservationists have been spreading foods preferred by roe deer, a move seen necessary to help the Siberian tigers to survive in the food-scarce winter in snow-covered mountains in northeast China.
Since Feb. 4, work staff from the Dongfanghong Forestry Bureau, in Heilongjiang Province, have been spreading soy bean stalk, corn and salt particles favored by roe deer and red deer in snow-covered mountains, said Yang Lijuan, a wild animal protection official with the Dongfanghong Forestry Bureau.
"This is expected to increase the number of red deer and roe deer, and thus guaranteeing foods for their predators, the Siberian tigers," said Yang.
She said the "food-aid" activity is another move sponsored by the World Wildlife Fund following the trap-clearing activity held in January.
Dozens of volunteers braved freezing temperatures and knee-high snow to clear traps set for endangered wild Siberian tigers in a four-day activity that experts from non-profit organizations, including the WWF and Wildlife Conservation Society, joined.
In six groups, 73 volunteers combed for traps in six forest farms.
Wang Lin, an initiator of the trap-clearing campaign, said poachers set iron wire ring traps every winter to catch wild animals like rabbits and roe deer, which can be more easily tracked on snow.
"The traps are cheap but very dangerous," said Wang. "They reduce the population of small animals, which are often prey for the tigers. They can even hurt tigers or help to catch them."
The activity came after a wild Siberian tiger was found dead with a trap around its neck in the city of Mishan in Heilongjiang in late October 2011, prompting environmentalists to call for enhanced wildlife protection.
Four to six wild Siberian tigers are believed to be living on the forest farms.
Siberian tigers are among the world's rarest species. The population of wild Siberian tigers is estimated at around 500, most of which live in Russia's far east and China's northeast.
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