Two critically endangered South China tiger cubs born in captivity and named Madonna and Tiger Woods were flown to South Africa on Friday so they can learn how to survive in the wild.
With fewer than 30 of the tigers left at large and 60 in zoos, international experts predict the species will disappear by 2010 if they do not learn how to cope on their own.
To prepare them for release, the two tigers born in Shanghai zoo jetted to a 500ha wildlife park in Free State province for wilderness survival training, such as catching prey.
They are the second pair to be sent to South Africa.
A year ago, a female, Guotai, and a male, Xiwang, were released into a reserve near Pretoria and after training for six months finally caught their first prey on July 25 this year, Xinhua said.
China is not considered to be in a position to train them sufficiently.
According to an agreement between China’s State Forestry Administration, the London-based Save China’s Tigers and Chinese Tigers South Africa, five to 10 tigers will be sent to South Africa for training.
They will all be returned in 2008 to coincide with the Olympics Games in Beijing.
The South China tiger is one of the world’s 10 most endangered animal species. — Sapa-AFP