Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province has opened a hospital specifically designed for the care of 300 Siberian tigers from the province's Siberian Tiger Park.   

The hospital is equipped with X-rays, B-ultrasonic machines and infant boxes, and is staffed by nine veterinarians. Sick tigers were previously sent to regular hospitals for examinations. However, major operations still have to be done outside the park.

Siberian tigers live mainly in northeast China and Russian Siberia. It is believed there are less than 300 Siberian tigers left in the wild, including less than 10 in China.

The World Wide Fund has included Siberian tigers in its list of the world's 10 most endangered animals.

The park in Harbin is the world's largest artificial propagation base for Siberian tigers. The current number of 300 is expected to rise to 1,000 by 2010.

(CRI December 21, 2003)