A breeder weighs a Siberian tiger cub at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Sun Hanlun/For chinadaily.com.cn]
The Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, has entered its peak period for the birthing of tiger cubs.
As of Wednesday, 14 cubs have been born in the park, including twins, triplets, quadruplets and quintuplets.
The young mothers have no experience nursing, so four breeders — Li Xin, Jia Teng, Song Zhiyang and Zhang Xu — are taking on the task of feeding the babies.
"They need to be fed with milk every three hours for the first week after birth," said Li, noting that the milk is made from powder. "We also have to pay greater attention in observing their health by monitoring their appetite, body temperatures and feces."
Siberian tigers are among the world's critically endangered species. They mainly live in northeastern China and eastern Russia.
The park is one of three run by the China Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center, the world's largest breeding center for the rare tigers. The other two are located in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, and Shenyang, Liaoning province.
Two Siberian tiger cubs play at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Sun Hanlun/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Breeder Li Xin monitors the body temperature of a Siberian tiger cub at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Sun Hanlun/For chinadaily.com.cn]
A Siberian tiger cub at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Two Siberian tiger cubs sleep at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Breeder Li Xin feeds a Siberian tiger cub at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Breeder Li Xin monitors the body temperature of a tiger cub at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Two tiger cubs sleep at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
Breeder Li Xin records data on the Siberian tiger cubs at the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, Heilongjiang province. [Photo by Zheng Xuefeng/For chinadaily.com.cn]
