The remains of two baby tigers were found in a refrigerator in the ticket office of a zoo in central China's Hubei Province, where another tiger was also found dead four days ago, a spokesman of the local forestry bureau reported on Monday.

The spokesman, Cao Guangyi at the Yichang Forestry Bureau, said that a female Bengal tiger experienced a difficult labor on Nov. 28 and gave birth to stillborn cubs at the Three Gorges Forest Wild Animal World. The zookeepers put the remains into a refrigerator for better preservation.

According to China's law on wildlife protection, zoos must get local authorities' approval before disposing of the bodies of deceased wild animals, said Cao. But the zookeepers did not report the deaths until the bureau started to investigate the matter on Dec. 22.

Cao said that the zoo should have reported the deaths to the forestry bureau and then disposed of the bodies in accordance with the bureau's decision.

"The bureau has ordered the zoo to improve its management and make the laws and regulations on wildlife protection better understood among the employees," said Cao.

On the morning of Dec. 20, a female Siberian tiger, between six and seven years old, was found dead with its head, legs and skin missing.

Siberian tigers, among the world's 10 most endangered species, mostly live in northeast China and in the Russian Far East. Of the 400 estimated alive in the wild, only 10 to 17 live in China.

Under Chinese law, poachers of endangered and rare wild animals face a maximum of 10 years in prison.

Forestry police are still investigating the case.

Covering about 40 hectares, the Three Gorges Forest Wild Animal World, some 14 kilometers from the city center, opened to visitors in 2002. It is home to more than 100 species of wild animals including 15 tigers, five bears, six African lions, two wolves, 60 monkeys and various birds.

Five employees work at the site and they are in charge of breeding, management and selling tickets.

"The zoo is losing money," said Wang Jiangxiang, a zookeeper. "This month, we have had only 20 visitors."

(Xinhua News Agency December 25, 2007)