China breeding center welcomes over 70 Siberian tiger cubs

A Siberian tiger gives birth to 7 cubs in May this year in Yunnan Wildlife Park. [Photo: Xinhua]

More than 70 cubs have been born this year at the world's largest breeding center for Siberian tigers in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province as the breeding season is coming to an end.

Siberian tigers usually give birth between April and June, but staff at the center said they still expect to welcome more than 100 Siberian tiger cubs in 2017.

The fluffy, mischievous cubs are in good health, according to breeders at the Siberian tiger park under Heilongjiang Hengdao Hezi Cat Family Breeding Center Monday. They added that the animals have become much stronger and shown aggressive behavior in just a few months.

The center controls the mating to ensure the number of cubs born each year will have superior genetics, said Liu Dan, chief engineer of the park.

A Siberian tiger gives birth to 7 cubs in May this year in Yunnan Wildlife Park. [Photo: Xinhua]

Siberian tigers are one of the world's most endangered species. They predominantly live in northeast China and eastern Russia. 

China has been trying to save the species through captive breeding programs. When the center opened in 1986, it had only eight tigers, now it is home to more than 1,000.