The influential America-based Science magazine
published a photo Friday which it claimed to be of a wild South
China tiger, which was taken in northwest China.
The magazine quoted Gary Koehler of Washington State's
Department of Fish and Wildlife as saying that "it's tremendously
exciting news, if it can be substantiated".
The photograph, purporting to be the first sighting of a South
China tiger for more than 30 years, has already aroused intensive
among Chinese netizens as well as scientists and scholars, after it
was released on October 12.
The photo was chosen from 71 digital and film photos, reportedly
taken by a local farmer named Zhou Zhenglong in early October in
Zhenping County, Shaanxi Province.
There are doubts over its veracity and suggestions that digital
technology may have been used to alter the image by netizens and a
botanist with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). In additioin
the international foundation, Save China's Tigers (SCT), also
issued a claim commenting on the alleged spotting of the South
China tiger.
The claim said that a tiger needs about 20 square kilometers of
habitat for its own survival. Zhenping County has a tiger reserve
zone of up to 140 square kilometers, so even if there are tigers,
it will only be a very small population.
Tigers, as solitary animals, are not easily spotted by humans.
So it would have been extraordinary for Mr. Zhou to spot and
photograph the tiger for two days in a row, the claim said.
It also pointed out that tigers are very vigilant animals. When
they see strange animals, their first reaction would be to press
themselves flat to the ground and prepare for attack or escape. But
Zhou's photos did not show the tiger in such a position.
But forestry officials in Shaanxi have rushed to Mr Zhou's
defence. "The photos were proved genuine by experts of wildlife and
photography we have organized to scrutinize them," Said Sun
Chengqian, deputy-director of the provincial forestry
deparment.
Guan Ke, an official with the department's information office
also claimed that he believed that the photos are genuine, judging
from his many years' experience of shooting wildlife in Shaanxi
Province.
However, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) urged the
public to be more sensible over the authenticity of those
photos.
"One single tiger does not necessarily translate into the
existence of a group, and whether the photos are true or not does
not illustrate the current situation of wild South China tigers,"
said Cao Qingrao, spokesman of SFA at a press conference
Thursday.
"Disputes over those photos would be a storm in teapot," said
Richard Stone, Asia editor of Science magazine.
Some Chinese scientists also echoed the opinion saying that
people should know better than merely arguing about the
authenticity of the photos.
"We should be aware that there are many wildlife and plants that
should be protected in this area of Shaanxi even if there are no
South China tigers," said Xie Yan, a researcher of tigers with the
Institute of Zoology of the CAS.
"To look from a positive point of view, disputes over the
authenticity of the photos showed that the public has developed a
much greater interest in the conservation of wild animals. It is
important to preserve people's concern about wildlife," said Xie,
adding that local people should be encouraged to protect the
biodiversity in the area.
Chinese zoologists are preparing an expedition to determine the
possible existence of the "extinct" wild South China tiger in
Shaanxi Province. But the SFA ruled out the possibility of offering
a reward for taking pictures of the wild cat for fear of disturbing
them if they actually exist."
(Xinhua News Agency November 9, 2007)