Two Siberian tigers from a zoo in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, yesterday began their journey to a new love nest in South Korea.

The pair, a gift from China, is leaving northeast China's icy winter for the warmer climes of the National Arboretum in Seoul.

The tigers arrive in Beijing tonight where they will be loaded into planes bound for South Korea tomorrow.

The big cats were selected from more than 300 adult Siberian tigers at the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, China's largest captive Siberian tiger center.

The male tiger that is a little over 4 years old is called Xin Ji (New Century) because he was the first tiger to be born in the park in 2001, "the beginning of the new century," said Wang Ligang, director of the park.

Female Yuan Yuan, which means consummation, is 3 years old.

"I hope the tigers will settle down in their new home and give birth to cubs in the future," Wang added.

The national arboretum is already home to two Siberian tigers, also originally from Harbin's Siberian Tiger Park. They were donated by China's then-President Jiang Zemin in 1994.

However, in the past 11 years the couple have failed to produce any offspring, said Liu Dan, chief engineer of the park.

It is hoped the new pair, having made it through a rigorous selection process, will be considerably more productive.

Yuan Yuan has already given birth to four cubs this year and Xin Ji's virility is well proven, Liu said.

Kim Hyun-joong, director of the Botanical Research Division of the arboretum, said the tigers are a "precious gift" to the Korean people.

"Siberian tigers are very beautiful animals. Their majestic appearance, ferocity and adroitness impress us all," Kim said.

"It's a pity that the previous pair failed to have any cubs, but I hope we can see some cubs from these two."

(China Daily November 15, 2005)