Wedo News reporter Wang Kexin
On May 13, the news of "Anhui Fuyang Safari Park was exposed to the death of 20 Siberian tigers" rushed to the hot search. According to the "Chinese Philanthropist", Anhui Fuyang Wildlife Park illegally exhibited and artificially bred the Siberian tiger, a national first-class protected animal, without obtaining an artificial breeding license. Due to the impact of the dispute over the management rights of the zoo, a large number of wild animals died, including 20 Siberian tigers, 2 African lions, 3 giraffes and other rare wild animals.
In China, tigers are the flagship species of wildlife protection, and according to regulations, the domestication and breeding of national first-class protected wild animals must be submitted to the Ministry of Forestry for approval, and second-class protected wild animals are subject to the approval of provincial forestry administrative departments.
As early as September 11, 2018, the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (NFGA) issued a decision not to grant permission to Anhui Qicai Wildlife Park Co., Ltd. on the grounds that it "does not have the appropriate sites and facilities for artificial breeding of Siberian tigers, Asian elephants and Bengal tigers," according to a document from the National Forestry and Grassland Administration.
Image Credit: Chinese philanthropist
On May 10, a reporter from "Chinese Philanthropist" visited Fuyang Wildlife Park and found that the corpses of dead wild animal cubs are still stored in the freezer, while the carcasses of adult Siberian tigers, African lions, giraffes, black bears and other animals are stacked in a refrigerator of about 10 square meters, waiting to be processed.
Image Credit: Chinese philanthropist
At noon on the 13th, the short video account of Fuyang Wildlife Park issued a closure announcement. The announcement said, "Due to the hot weather, some venues in the park have been upgraded, and the park will be closed for three days from 5.13 to 5.15." ”
Image source: Fuyang Safari Park's official short video account
The reporter called Fuyang Wildlife Park according to the number published on his short video account. The staff said that Fuyang Wildlife Park was responsible for the animal show and belonged to the contractor. "The animals mentioned in the report, such as the Siberian tiger, giraffe and black bear, do not belong to us, but to another boss, and the details are not clear. We have monkeys, zebras, etc., performing in the park, you need to pay rent, and these animals have licenses. In addition, according to the staff member, the local forestry department has intervened at present, and the specific situation can wait for the official notification. The reporter contacted the local forestry department, but the phone was not answered.
In the afternoon, the reporter found that the "park closure announcement" in the account had been deleted, and a video was released at about 16 o'clock, in which two tigers were moving under the tree. The reporter tried to call Fuyang Wildlife Park again, but the phone was not connected.
The reporter found that the "Preliminary Investigation Report on the Status of Tigers in China" released on the official website of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation on July 29, 2022 (World Tiger Day) shows that there are about 7,116 tigers in the mainland, including four subspecies: Siberian tigers, Bengal tigers, South China tigers, and Indochinese tigers.
Screenshot of the website of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Preliminary Survey Report on the Status of Tigers in China (29 July 2022)
From the perspective of distribution area, among them, 2,715 are distributed in zoos, 3,744 are distributed in Siberian Tiger Forest Park, Changchun Siberian Tiger Park, Xionghu Villa and other special breeding institutions, and 584 are distributed in 34 circuses with industrial tiger breeding certificates in Suzhou, Anhui Province.
Screenshot of the website of the China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation
Preliminary Survey Report on the Status of Tigers in China (29 July 2022)
There are also about 55 wild Siberian tigers in the Siberian Tiger and Leopard National Park, and 14-20 Indochinese tigers in the wild in Yunnan. Wild tigers on the mainland account for only 1.9%-1.3% of the global distribution.
According to the Chinese Philanthropist, at present, 16 Siberian tigers, African lions, giraffes, black bears and other animals living in the park have been locked in transportation cages for a long time, with a small space and worrying living conditions. Regarding the rescue of existing live animals, the reporter called the China Wildlife Conservation Association several times for consultation, but the phone was not answered before press time.
It is reported that the Information Office of the Fuyang Municipal People's Government issued a circular: the local government has set up an investigation team composed of multiple departments at the municipal level and the Yingdong District Government to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the death of wild animals, and the follow-up investigation and disposal will be announced to the public in a timely manner.
Wedo News will continue to pay attention to this event. (Comprehensive CCTV News, Chinese Philanthropist)