zoo:logic

The South China tiger (Panthera tigris amoyensis) is the world’s most endangered species of tiger - less than 30 remain in the wild, and only around 60 in captivity. What is remarkable about conservation efforts for this particular species is that populations are being returned to the wild in a controversial project that takes them via South Africa. Li Quan, founder of Save China’s Tigers, explains: ”Wildlife management is an art, and it’s one in which South Africa excels. China is still poor and if people are hungry they will hunt wildlife. Poverty alleviation is the Chinese government’s priority, so there’s little money for conservation. There is also wholesale loss of the prey animals on which large predators survive. We have no time to lose, and I persuaded the Chinese government that we should re-wild the tigers in a 600-hectare reserve in South Africa while restoring their habitat in China in preparation for their return.” The ‘re-wilding’ project teaches young tigers, including those from captive backgrounds that may never have even seen grass before, to hunt in order that they can be returned to wild, a process that takes about 18 months. The tigers will be returned to nature reserves in China once sustainable populations of prey have been established and people living in target areas have been resettled.

Ref: Armstrong (2011) Li Quan: Why Chinese tigers should return via Africa. New Scientist 2828 29. [link]