GM Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Siberian tigers die at China zoo By Michael Bristow BBC News, Beijing Eleven rare Siberian tigers have died over the last three months at a zoo in north-eastern China. The local authorities believe that a lack of food contributed to their deaths, according to media reports. The news is bound to raise concerns about the treatment of captive tigers in China, which is this year celebrating the year of the tiger. China has only about 50 tigers left in the wild, but it has about 5,000 in captivity. The tigers died at the Shenyang Forest Wild Animal Zoo in Liaoning Province. That fact was confirmed by a worker at the zoo. But there are discrepancies about how they died. A local wildlife protection official, Liu Xiaoqiang, is reported to have said that malnutrition was one cause. The tigers were apparently fed cheap chicken bones. Mr Liu also said that the tigers had been kept in very small cages, restricting their movement and lowering their resistance to disease. A manager at the zoo, which is currently closed, said the animals simply died of various diseases. But however the tigers died, their deaths will inevitably raise questions about how the animals are treated in China. Animal campaign groups say there is simply not enough protection for tigers held in the country's zoos and farms. A spokesman for the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Beijing said: "[The government has] given too many credentials to groups that do not have the capability of taking care of these animals." Tiger trade In China there is also still a trade in tiger parts, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. They are used to treat rheumatism and to strengthen bones. The BBC recently found that the Siberia Tiger Park, based in Heilongjiang Province in the northeast of China, is selling a "tiger bone wine" that contains three small tiger bones. These issues have been discussed for some time, both inside and outside China, but they are being given extra prominence this year - because this year is the year of the tiger. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/8563673.stm Published: 2010/03/12 08:03:37 GMT Thought the sole point of zoos was to conserve rare species? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Aww, I love tigers. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pilko Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Theyyyyyyyy're great! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Brilliant. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keefaz Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Another good reason to slam doors in their stupid flat faces.[/jill] Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jill Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Eeee no. The Chans across the hall from me are cool. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Segun Oluwaniyi Posted March 13, 2010 Share Posted March 13, 2010 Not too bothered with tigers at all specifically, but it is shameful that a "zoo" would have animals this type of environment and treat them in this way. Not to mention the rather obvious dangers of having hungry tigers around massive amounts of people. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzieMandias Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Well, I'm bothered about tigers. The Siberian tiger is a magnificent animal. There are only about 400 of them left in the wild. They're a big target for poachers because the Chinese use tiger parts in medicines which are supposed to be powerful because the animal is powerful. At the most ridiculous end of the spectrum, rich Taiwanese look to create a rare feast of tiger penis soup as it supposed to be a cure for ailing sexual prowess. Cunts. Now we learn that they can't even look after them in a zoo. Maybe these tigers were allowed to die because some fucker is selling off the carcasses. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GM Posted March 14, 2010 Share Posted March 14, 2010 Well, I'm bothered about tigers. The Siberian tiger is a magnificent animal. There are only about 400 of them left in the wild. They're a big target for poachers because the Chinese use tiger parts in medicines which are supposed to be powerful because the animal is powerful. At the most ridiculous end of the spectrum, rich Taiwanese look to create a rare feast of tiger penis soup as it supposed to be a cure for ailing sexual prowess. Cunts. Now we learn that they can't even look after them in a zoo. Maybe these tigers were allowed to die because some fucker is selling off the carcasses. If only there were more people like you and fewer like Babatunde, then perhaps tigers wouldn't be facing almost certain extinction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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