China's largest training base for rewilding South China Tigers was put into operation in east China's Fujian Province on Thursday.
"Tiger's jumping ability is quite strong. They can jump about three meters high from a standstill, reaching the middle position between the third and fourth steel cables. Therefore, when designing the enclosure, we chose a height of 4.5 meters and added an inward-bent structure at the top," said Huang Cheng, an assistant engineer of Meihua Mountain South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute.
The main function of the adaptation field is to provide a natural living environment for the tigers. Therefore, researchers have specially selected an original ecological forest area. They also periodically release a controlled number of artificially bred animals such as sika deer, wild boars, and rabbits to establish a food chain suitable for the South China tigers.
"According to preliminary research, the adaptation area is naturally distributed with such animals as the muntjac, ring-necked pheasants, and yellow-bellied weasels. When constructing the adaptation area, we made every effort to preserve its native environment, aiming to provide a natural training ground for the tigers," said Huang.
The complex terrain of the wild environment has also been preserved, allowing the tigers to move freely, patrol their territory, and exercise their physical strength and sense of direction.
To monitor the living conditions of South China tigers in the adaptation area in real time, the staff have set up eight infrared cameras and 16 peripheral surveillance cameras. Meanwhile, drones are also used for regular patrols.
"This new infrared cameras we recently purchased is equipped with a solar panel for power supply. When setting it up, we positioned it based on tigers' shoulder height, ranging from 1 to 1.5 meters. It is installed near the intersections of animal trails and water source, allowing it to capture images of tigers and their prey as they pass in front of it," said Li Hao, another assistant engineer at the breeding research institute.
According to the staff, the South China tigers will have a brief transition in the adaptation area. Once they can hunt independently and adapt to the wild environment, they will move to a broader wild training area.
The South China tiger is a unique subspecies of tiger in China and also the most endangered subspecies. Statistics for 2024 show that there are currently only 247 left in China.
The Meihua Mountain Nature Reserve in Longyan, Fujian Province, was one of the main habitats of wild South China tigers in history. In 1998, Longyan launched the South China Tiger Rescue Project and established the South China Tiger Breeding Research Institute on Meihua Mountain. After 27 years of continuous conservation efforts, scientific research breakthroughs and wild training, the breeding research center in the Meihua Mountains Nature Reserve has now successfully bred 76 South China tigers.
Re-wild training is an important way to expand the population of South China tigers. With the official operation of the newly-built wild training base for South China tigers on Meihua Mountain, two adult South China tigers will move into their "new home". The transfer of the first female South China tiger named "Weiwei" has been completed.
China's largest training base for rewilding South China Tigers put into operation
China's largest training base for rewilding South China Tigers put into operation
