A south China tigress gave birth to twin cubs, a male and a female, early this month in the Suzhou Shihu South China Tiger-Breeding Base in east China's Jiangsu Province.

The type of tiger is believed by wildlife experts to be close to extinction.

So far, only 53 South China tigers are alive in captivity. None of the animals has been captured alive during the past 40 years. The species, unique to China, is listed as one of the ten most endangered animals on earth by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

The twin cubs, both weighing about 1 kg, were born at the expected birth date on January 8.

Their mother, No. 241 tigress in international serial numbering, has sufficient milk and is good at taking care of her babies, sources said.

The father is a tiger internationally numbered 251.

The base moved the mother tiger and cubs into a specially heated shed. The indoor temperature is kept at 20 degrees Celsius, at which tigers feel most comfortable, according to sources.

Huang Gongqing, a tiger-breeding expert, and her assistants keep watch over the tigers day and night.

Founded in 1999, the base covers four hectares, and has 30 tiger rooms and a 1,000-sq-m playground for the animals. The base currently has 13 South China tigers, the largest breeding community of the tiger in the world.

(People’s Daily 02/20/2001)