The center, located in Heilongjiang Province, is home to over 160 Siberian tigers, and at least 60 more cubs are expected to be born this year.

However, the center has failed to repay bank loans surpassing 20 million yuan, or US$2.4 million, and as a result, many Siberian tigers are living on a reduced food intake. Some training programs designed to cultivate the wild nature of the big cats have also been canceled due to money shortages.

The Siberian tiger is among the top 10 most endangered species in the world, with around 500 in total existing worldwide.

(CRI 01/18/2001)