Focus

Fury at tiger tragedy leads to better care

(China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-30 07:49

Tigers at Shenyang Forest Wild Animals Zoo are looking healthier. Wu Yong / China Daily

When 11 Siberian tigers starved to death at the privately owned Shenyang Forest Wild Animals Zoo in Liaoning province, animal lovers nationwide were outraged. Authorities, who took control of the privately owned business in March, shut the park down until May 1.

Eight months on, Jiang Hong, a reporter with the Shenyang-based China Business Morning Post, said the animals at the zoo are doing much better. "Siberian tigers were wandering and playing together in the wildlife area," she said, recalling her visit in November. "A tour guide told me the tigers are now fed once a day at lunch time with 20 kilograms of beef and chicken meat."

In March, keepers said they had only been able to feed the tigers chicken bones for about two years.

Shenyang Forest Wild Animals Zoo had been in poor financial shape since 2000, when it became private and animals suffered food shortage for years. After two starved Siberian tigers mauled their handlers in 2009 and 11 more died of malnutrition between December 2009 and February 2010, failures in the zoo's management were put under the spotlight.

The situation has been improved with a special government fund of 3 million yuan ($450,000), said Liu Dajun, the zoo's deputy general manager. The money has been used to improve animals' living conditions and upgrade its veterinary practice, as well as for new cages and vehicles.

Since the improvements, breed has increased.

"We have had 11 animals give birth to 91 babies this year," Liu said at the Shenyang Wild Animal Protection Work Meeting on Nov 16. "Next year, we will breed more Siberian tigers."

The work meeting resulted in a system that requires that the death of an animal must be reported to forestry administrations within three days.

Shenyang Forest Wild Animals Zoo has received 100,000 visitors since May 1, roughly 70,000 people fewer than in 2009. Revenue also fell to 4.6 million yuan. Liu blamed the decreases in the number of species on display, as well as the zoo's damaged reputation.

Li Li

For the original story, visit: http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2010-03/19/content_9611254.htm