Artificial propagation can save the Tiger?

Artificial propagation can save Amur Tigers? http://www.thebeijingnews.com source: Beijing News

Nobody thought that in the not long ago the 14 th of the CITES Convention on international trade, China's Tiger breeding plan sparked international animal protection sector concerns.

This was originally designed to protect wild tiger breeding programme, but in 20 years but because breeding too much evolved out of the many unfavorable factors wild tiger conservation. Tiger more into patient, some tiger products in a variety of ways into the consumer market.

At that Conference, including China, all the participating States adopted resolutions: rearing Tiger's purpose should not be the organ of the Tiger and tiger products trade.

Member States should take measures to limit the size of captive stocks to only be used for the protection of wild tiger population. However, the controversy continues. Chinese tiger breeding plan is still controversial. In early September, International Journal of the natural sciences and the science of continuous published an article on China's wild tiger conservation situation in focus. In expert view, simple reproduction and species protection can easily between is not playing.

1 original artificial feeding, protection of the wild tiger Tiger

China's Tiger breeding base on many wild training.

Heilongjiang Harbin's cross-channel sub hulin Park is the world's largest artificial breeding Tigers base.

Hulin garden is originally in 1986, national forests, and endangered species management and Heilongjiang provincial government encouragement and support. This base is breeding Siberian Tiger, a tiger products manufactured to meet Chinese market demand for Tiger. They believe that artificial feeding production tiger bone, Tiger can indirectly to protect the role of wild tigers.

The reproduction, the base 20 years of effort is successful.

Hulin Park is responsible for publicity of the edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à said, 1986 was first set up, all the resources of the Siberian Tiger Park is just 8 head Tiger. And now, here are already as many as 800 head Tiger. Only the first eight months of this year, the birth of Tiger baby is close to 100 only. The journal nature, in an article on that, from this point it is not difficult to see that the base has completely mastered the Tiger of artificial propagation.

In fact, China's Tiger breeding base are not cross-channel sub hulin Park family.

In 1988, China introduced the Wildlife Protection Act, encourages individual and collective domesticated animals. It is for profit-making purposes, in the 1990s, a group of Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in a sanatorium huyuan, formed a "wave" Tiger farming.

In Tiger breeding technology increasingly successful now, farm groups and not in the Tiger is a rare phenomenon.

Even in the General urban Zoo similar scene is also very easy to see. "Siberian Tiger breeding technology was relatively successful, but in recent years we have breed, the reason is to take into account the number of prior to reproduction. " The Beijing Zoo Keepers to Captain Joseph said. However, Tiger breeding base is not a Zoo, ornamental and educational role and not their maintenance work. Production tiger products is the way out.

Shortly after, China joined the CITES Convention on international trade.

In 1993, the Chinese Government to release the Convention on the prohibition of trade in rhinoceros horn and Tiger circular banning all trade in Tiger and Tiger kind is prohibited.

China on the protection of Wild Tigers work has been recognized by the international community.

Chinese tiger is important, but China decided to ban on Tiger trade. "This way, China suffered heavy losses, the tiger in the market. The international community believe that China has made the world a good demonstration. "East China Normal University, College of life sciences, Professor, international trade in endangered species of Committee of China project coordinator Xu hongfa pointed out that China also launched a large number of wild tiger conservation work, in the reserve has also done a great job.

However, this year's survey found that some breeding base are still making tiger products through various channels to trade links.

In June of this year, Beijing media exposure, Guilin, some hotels open sale of meat, while the local Tiger Tiger breeding base may also be bone wine onto the market.

Associate Professor, College of life sciences, Beijing Normal University, Li-remember last June in endangered species of wild fauna and flora, the Hague Convention on international trade on the Assembly.

This Conference, the relevant investigate report was published. China's Tiger breeding program was originally designed to protect wild tigers in the first place, now it has been criticized by the international community.

This field because of the tiger farms and detonate the ultimate resolution of dispute to reach the end.

National consultations on captive Tigers and the relationship of wild populations. The resolution clearly states that the purpose of artificial breeding Tigers should not trade in tiger products. Member States should take measures to limit the size of captive tiger population to only be used for the protection of wild tiger population.

In some Tiger breeding base, you can buy into such a gift.

Although not directly identified as tiger products, but the shape of the bottle is enough.

2 controversy on the artificial propagation of tiger products should be "lifted"?

However, Tiger breeding base detonating the controversy of captive Tigers remain in the scientific community.

International survey organizations find tiger bone, tiger products in trade flows, "lifting" of sound has been sounded.

In fact, "lifted" said in 2004 has not been stopped.

"Major release" requirementsIs engaged in Tiger artificial reproduction industry. CITES Conference, Chinese representatives said the tiger farms main hope to reopen Tiger nourishing the wine market. Because health care is very popular in China, tonic, but those containing valuable components of dietary supplements, such as with endangered species composition of tonic, is the most popular. "Tiger breeding more and more, while keeping the costs of a tiger. These pet tiger farm requires to open trade in tiger products. "Xu Wang said. At present, such breeding Siberian Tiger Park base in addition to selling live Tiger, development of tourism, seems to have no other income. However, breeding, feeding and Tiger takes money.

Support "lifted", "lifted", entered the trade channel is only captive Tiger, this will not be on what impact of wild tigers.

On the contrary, the benefit is also used for protection of Wild Tigers needed expenses.

Against the odds.

To Dina Stan (EricDinerstein) led by Zoologists in June of the Biological Sciences published an article pointed out: "the reopening of artificial feeding Tiger tiger products trade, will be on wild tiger population pressures, wild tiger tiger products also have a ' money laundering '. After all, the wild tiger prey in comparison to the cost of a tiger, reproduction are much lower. ”

But the "lifting" agree or think that their proposal is not required to open the door of the wild tiger trade: If the Government agrees that the artificial propagation of Tiger Tiger's use, the patient will be available only from designated hospital purchase these tiger bone medicine.

However, Chinese medicine sector does not seem to support the "lifting".

Xu Acer introduces, in the Hague Conference, the United States Association for the study of Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine 14 years most practitioners to support China's tiger trade ban. Almost no Chinese medicine in any way require the reopening of the tiger trade market.

In fact, researchers have found a lot of tiger bone of effective alternatives.

In May last year, in winter the pharmaceutical companies of a national laboratory (Institute of biology by Northwest and the CAs support), published a 10-year study results: efficacy in the treatment of rheumatism, Zokor tiger bone can substitute.

Acer in Xu, once open, then the impact of the future, require scientific evaluation.

"Once opened, it will certainly stimulate the hunting of wild tigers. Now the wild tiger so little by little, as long as the Commission, may really Amur Tigers into the wild extinction. In addition, the ' lifted ' might allow the public understanding of the formation errors, stimulate the demand for tiger products. ”

3 points of view given the inevitable extinction

On the edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à, breeding base's goal is to protect the wild tiger.

To this end, the Siberian Tiger Park from 1996 to the wild. Currently, hulin Park Wild River from cross-trained child moved to Harbin, edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à explained that the reason for this is the venue before is too small. At present the hulin Park set in the field of preparation. Edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à pointed out that the purpose of reproduction hulin Park is to protect, but foreign wildlife and domestic not quite the same, so that a large number of reproduction, which in turn make wild training methods, abroad may not be endorsed. "We also have knowledge of foreign to us this protection policy point of view. ”

But some scientists it seems, given the power to save the wild tiger of destiny.

Zhang pointed out that the captive animals to the wild, often neglected animal itself is also able to adapt to survive in the environment. Xu hongfa more precise: "wild tiger takes 2 years to adapt to an independent life. Captive Tiger simply do not have this ability. ”

Under natural conditions, Tiger's many acts are learn from both parents.

In addition to the predatory behavior, Tiger breeding and feeding future generations and how outdoor survival behaviour of the learning process is also indispensable. However this captive Tiger, you really strange. Zhang pointed out that, now returned often only one-sided consider increasing the number of individuals in the wild. However, this is put into captive Tiger, it is difficult to adapt to the field of environment, the natural environment in the event there is not enough to do the food supply.

In fact, some endangered animal captive reproduction of individual wild and placed into the wild we've been doing, it was once considered effective protection measures.

However, the situation may be different with our imagination. Our first set of artificial propagation of giant pandas in the wild "Xiang Xiang" wild training nearly 3 years, but after the set field, only live on less than one year. 31 May of this year, China's Wolong pandas Volpe Li announced to the press, "Xiang Xiang" death: and the wild pandas in the territories and food fight, fall from height causing severe internal injuries.

Xu hongfa pointed out that the set is on endangered species protection in a way, but for carnivorous animals, especially large, still not very appropriate.

4 query gene disorder, hinder set

International wildlife territories does not endorse the "given" of protection, there is an important reason.

In the artificial propagation of tiger population genetic structure more confused and cannot be clearly identified. "Domestic tiger farm population genetic structure is widely questioned. " Zhang notes.

The journal nature also mentioned this question.

United States National Cancer Institute's species conservation biologist Robert books into (ShujinLuo, transliteration) said that, if you have verbose logging pedigree, artificial propagation behavior can also be for Tiger species protection made great contribution. Unfortunately, including hulin Park, almost all Chinese tiger breeding base are not able to doTo this point.

Hulin Park two circumstances gave rise to the challenge of experts.

One is the "shihushou". This is the lion and Tiger hybrid products, despite their lack of reproductive capacity, but because of the unusual sources of concern arising from the visitors become the star of the Siberian Tiger Park. However, the scientists, this hybrid experiments but there is great danger. Hulin Park there's another issue is that while this reproduction of Tiger to Tiger, but keeps the other subspecies of Tiger of Bengal tiger. These two different subspecies of Tiger of the Siberian Tiger Park very chaotic. genealogy

Mince the natural law: "(Chinese culture ') propagation strategies compared with Western countries is very original.

" Europe and the United States in selecting mating of the Zoo, the individual will use computer models to aid, and refer to each individual detail pedigree register.

In addition, very few hulin Park and other tiger breeding base are exchanged.

While the United States is regular Zoo sent to other parts of the Tiger-mate. United States Zoo tiger pedigree Book Administrator Traylor (KathyTraylor) said: "everyone is afraid to receive from the Tiger Park hulin, Heilongjiang, for fear that they have to carry the other subspecies of genes. If not strictly manage Tiger group, genetic diversity will automatically disappear. ”

For foreign scientists question the edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à represents himself could not answer this professional problems.

Xu hongfa also pointed out that the Tiger's material is not too easy to get, it is difficult to these queries are correct. But the basis of common sense, and incaptivity, if not a very scientific genealogy protection, very careful to preserve the genetic diversity, genetic diversity would be very small.

While the family tree of captive Tigers into the wild, obviously can't let scientists assured.

"We will head South China tigers drop into the wild, the premise is that we want to be sure it really is the end of the South China Tiger. " Zhang notes.

5 conclusions protected species to protect Habitat

Wild tiger historical comparison of the distribution and current distribution.

In view of the above, Li-difficulties is not the most critical.

"The biggest problem is suitable habitat. If you do not do habitat restoration and transformation, even if the returned field is also difficult to succeed. ”

Last century, the number of wild tigers in the world in 10 million or so.

Latest surveys indicate that this number had dropped to around 5000 only. The biological science on June, published papers pointed out: "the tiger in its distribution area is endangered, especially in the Caspian Sea and Java and Bali area, in the South of China may be wiped out. " Researchers found that the current Tiger only its distribution area of the historic distribution area of 7%. Only in the last 10 years, humans know Tiger distribution area reduces 41%. In such a short time so large reduced, warning that we must prevent habitat loss, launched the tiger habitat restoration work to ensure the maintenance of existing tiger population.

The Siberian Tiger, even in the middle of the 19th century, the range is still very large, but in nearly a century, the steady decline in the distribution area.

In 1993, the country is estimated at 250-300 Northeast Tiger, but only to the 1999 survey only found only less than 20. 2000 after, monitoring project shows that Tiger only in Russia, there are some activities in the area.

In fact, tiger rang

e is large, a young female Tiger care about 450 square kilometers of forest to meet it and Cub survival needs. While the male Tiger 1 head to cover 3 — 5 only vixen. Maintain a 20 only to breeding female tiger populations, need 9000 square kilometers of safeguard good continuous Habitat. However, in China there is a protected area has such a large area, the biggest hunchun national nature reserve and only 1000 square kilometers.

In Zhang, and other researchers, captive Tigers just returned to wild are also possible.

After all, like the wild behavior of acquisition can undergo a series of field training, issues such as genetic diversity through scientific monitoring and other methods be improved. But if you do not have their Habitat, even if the returned captive tiger in the wild, they are also unable to survive. "Through news stories, from 2000 to the present, there are three or four other tiger died because hunting traps, looks quantity is small, but for less than 20 of the wild tiger population was a big blow. " Thus the construction of suitable habitat. However, Zhang or stressed even if given, at present, China's Tiger breeding grounds of quantity or too much.

The Awakening Patch

Tiger Pantheratigris

Large cats.

Northern Tiger figure, color lighter; Southern Tigers shape smaller, darker. Vixen average 2.46 fetal farrowing.

In 1758, Linnean will Tiger named Felistigris, mode of origin to Bangladesh.

In 1929, wave cock the name changed to this name. Tiger is divided into eight subspecies, of which three are already extinct.

Siberian tiger Panthera tigrisaltaica

Also called a Siberian Tiger, is the body's largest Tiger.

Currently only wild for only 150-400.

South China tiger Panthera tigrisamoyensis

The last wild South

Tiger was shot and killed in 1994. Distribution throughout the Zoo in about 60 only South Chinatigers are multiply since the 1950s captured 6 only South China Tiger.

Bali tiger Panthera tigrisbalica

Bali Tiger is on the fringe of up most of a tiger.

Finally a Bali Tiger is killed in 1937.

Tigriscorbetti Panthera Indo-Tiger

Also called the Malayan Tiger, shape and smaller.

Currently only in the Malay Peninsula.

Java tiger Panthera tigrissondaica

Java Tiger are considered extinct in the 1980s.

Sumatran tiger

Panthera tigrissumatrae

The Sumatran tiger is the shape and the smallest a tiger, approximately 400 only.

Bengal tiger Panthera tigristigris

Bengal tiger is currently the largest number of a tiger, only about 3000-4600.

The subspecies have white tiger variants.

The Caspian tiger Panthera tigrisvirgata

Finally a Caspian Tiger is recorded in 1968.

Has died out of three Tiger subspecies: Java Tiger, Tiger, Tiger, and the Caspian Sea in Bali.

New thematic interviews reporter Li Jian-

This special appreciated:

Xu hongfa (East China Normal University, College of life sciences, Professor)

Zhang Li (Associate Professor, College of life sciences, Beijing Normal University)

Mr. Peter back (Beijing Zoo keeping team captain)

Edge «ë¾-·â¿ú» ú ¹à (Harbin Cross River child advocacy hulin Park)