A farmer claims he photographed a wild South China tiger earlier this month, according to a State Forest Administration (SFA) newsletter published yesterday. Experts have been dis-patched to Northwest China's Qinling Mountains area to investigate claims.
Qinling Mountains area in Zhenping County, Shaanxi Province, was formally an important habitat for the South China tiger.
The SFA said efforts to protect the forest and its wildlife had resulted in improvements to the habitat and recovery of native species.
It was thought wild South China tigers had been wiped out. There are about 50 of the big cats in zoos.
Earlier this month, the Shaanxi forestry department showed a digital photo of what appeared to be a South China tiger, it would mark the first time the species has been seen in the wild for more than two decades.
The photographer was Zhou Zhenglong, 52, a farmer and former hunter from Chengguan Township in Zhenping County. He said he took the photo on October 3.
Some experts, however, suspect the photo is a computer-generated fake, citing the blurred image and lighting.
Fu Dezhi, a researcher of the Chinese Academy of Sciences said in his blog that Zhou might have faked the picture using a paper tiger.
The authorities, however, insist the picture is authentic.
Zhu Julong is a deputy head of the provincial forestry department.
"Zhou Zhenglong risked his life taking these photos so they are very precious. We are being cautious and responsible by releasing one of the photos,"
Zhou was not a professional photographer, he said, and understandably panicked when he was close to the tiger, explaining the blurry images.
The SFA plans to launch a thorough search of the Qinling Mountain area to investigate the South China tiger sighting.
Questions:
1. How many South China tigers are till alive in China’s zoos?
2. Where does the farmer claim to have taken the pictures ?
3. Why do experts believe the images is a fake?
4. Why did Zhu say the image was blurry?
Answers:
1. About 50.
2. Qinling Mountains in Zhenping County, Shaanxi Province.
3. Blurred image and lighting.
4. The man was close to the tiger and panicked.
（英语点津 Celene 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Jonathan Stewart is a media and journalism expert from the United States with four years of experience as a writer and instructor. He accepted a foreign expert position with chinadaily.com.cn in June 2007 following the completion of his Master of Arts degree in International Relations and Comparative Politics.
