The current status of wild South China tigers is vague. Only 40 years ago there were reputed to be more than 4,000 tigers, but the government declared them pests, and they were hunted mercilessly.
A 1987 field survey by Chinese scientists reported a few tigers remaining in the Guangdong mountains bordering Hunan and Jiangxi, and another survey in 1990 noted evidence of about a dozen tigers in 11 reserves in the remote mountains of Guangdong, Hunan, and Fujian Provinces of South China. No tigers were seen.
The only evidence came from anecdotal stories of former hunters (at least they claimed to have stopped hunting). An unconfirmed report from the Ministry of Forestry in 1995 suggests that the wild population is fewer than 20 individuals.
The current situation is that no wild tigers have been seen anywhere by Chinese officials for more than 20 years. The Chinese Ministry of Forestry lists 21 reserves within the presumed range of the tiger, and Chinese specialists believe between 20 and 30 tigers are still left in the wild. The last time a wild tiger was seen in the wild was 10 years ago These facts suggest that the South China tiger is the rarest of the five living tiger subspecies, the most threatened, and the closest to extinction.
According to the 1995 Tigers Stud Book the captive population for this tiger, remains in 19 zoos spread across south China. The last time a wild tiger was brought into captivity was over 20 years ago. The future does not look good for this subspecies of tiger, unless we do something, and quick.
AVERAGE SIZE: South China Tiger
FEMALE:
Weight: 221 lbs. to 254 lbs.
Length: 7 ft. 3 in. to 7 ft 11 in.
MALE:
Weight: 287 lbs. to 386 lbs.
Length: 7 ft 7 in. to 8 ft. 7 in.
The wild Indian Tigers are in grave danger. They need our help NOW! If something isn't done soon, they will be GONE before the mellinium! Please read & sign the petition @ Save the Indian Tiger today.
Awesome source of Information
Special Thanks to for alot of wonderful information & pictures.
for alot of wonderful information & pictures.
