South China Tiger Conservation Strategy Petri Viljoen Objective The South China Tiger Conservation Strategy aims to establish genetically viable, free-ranging South China tigers in suitable, newly created protected areas in south- eastern China. Background The South China Tiger ( Panthera tigris amoyensis ), also known as the Chinese Tiger, is the most endangered of the remaining living tiger subspecies (IUCN 2009). It is estimated that a small number (10-20) of free-ranging South China tigers could still be present, although no recent sightings of this tiger subspecies in its natural range have been reported. The captive population, all in Chinese zoos with the exception of 14 individuals currently in South Africa, number approximately 60 (Traylor-Holzer 1998; IUCN 2009). The South China Tiger is considered to be critically endangered (IUCN 2009) and precariously close to extinction (Tilson et al. 1997; Tilson et al. 2004). Herrington (1987) considered the South China Tiger to be a relic population of the "stem" tiger, possibly occurring close to the area of the species’ origin. Luo et al. (2004, in IUCN 2009) suggested that the centre of the original tiger radiation was most likely the southern China/northern Indochina region. Save China’s Tigers (SCT) is a UK, US, China and Hong Kong based charitable foundation. SCT’s specific mission is to save the South China Tiger from extinction and recreate a viable population of free-ranging South China Tigers in protected reserves in their former range. To achieve this objective SCT aims to assist with the development of captive breeding and reintroduction of South China Tigers in China. Furthermore, SCT aims to raise the awareness of conservation issues facing the South China Tiger through public educational strategies. The South China Tiger Project is a collaborative project between the Chinese Tigers South African Trust, Chinese Wildlife Research and Development Centre of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) and SCT. A framework agreement was signed in November 2002 between the three parties. This agreement of cooperation concerns the breeding and re-introduction of South China tigers back into the wild as part of the establishment of new tiger nature reserves. South China Tiger ( Panthera tigris amoyensis ) Conservation Strategy 2 Conservation Strategy Tiger “Rewilding“ and Breeding The South China Tiger is a critically endangered tiger sub-species and the only individuals available for possible free release into protected areas are from a limited captive population in Chinese zoos. Suitable areas of land, abundant and suitable prey, and wildlife management expertise are required for such a “rewilding” (rehabilitation) programme to be effective (Appendix I). The suitable resources required are not immediately available in China. These include suitable areas for an effective tiger rewilding project and the required or necessary wildlife management experience. A key part of the project, however, will involve the development of these components in China, but the full development of the required resources is expected to take several years. Because of the South China Tiger’s present critical population status, it was considered that the establishment of a Chinese Tiger rewilding programme should proceed with minimum delay to overcome the increasing genetic limitations of the present captive population. The reintroduction of captive-born tigers was identified as a possible feasible strategy under the right circumstances, particularly as it has been demonstrated that captive- born large carnivores can learn to adapt with minimum human involvement (Christie & Seidensticker, 1999). South Africa was considered an ideal venue for the Tiger Rewilding Programme as infrastructure, prey resources and expertise exist to achieve the project’s initial objectives. It was agreed that China would provide 5-10 cubs between 2003 and 2007 for breeding and rewilding. All the tigers in South Africa will eventually be returned to China for reintroduction into suitable pilot tiger reserves. A particular tiger rewilding strategy was specifically developed for this project (van Dyk, 2003) with subsequent adaptations. The tiger rewilding strategy also aims to ensure that behavioural diversity (Rabin 2003) is maintained as far as possible. A tiger rewilding/breeding facility was developed in 2004 on the then newly established Laohu Valley Reserve (LVR), Philippolis District in the Free State Province, South Africa. There are currently 14 South China Tigers at the tiger rewilding/breeding facility. The tigers will remain confined to a tiger camp complex ( ±250 ha) within LVR for the duration of the rewilding programme in South Africa. The tiger rewilding programme in South Africa also serves as ex situ breeding of South China Tigers (Appendix I). The aim is eventually to increase the number of South China Tigers to several hundred (possibly 300) through a captive/semi-captive breeding programme which would involve both the ex situ breeding in South Africa as well as the future breeding programmes at the pilot tiger reserves in China. South China Tiger ( Panthera tigris amoyensis ) Conservation Strategy 3 A number of Chinese officials have already visited South Africa to gain first hand- experience of general wildlife management practices. Pilot Tiger Reserve Development A survey was undertaken during 2003 of a number of proposed areas in south- eastern China for the reintroduction of the South China Tiger (Anderson et al. 2003). This survey aimed to select the appropriate pilot tiger reserve sites based on the tiger’s ecological requirements for the establishment of a free-ranging tiger population. The second aim was to ensure that the sites selected would create opportunities in wildlife conservation to the benefit of local economic development and to maintain the cultural and spiritual values associated with the South China Tiger. Consideration was given to minimal negative social impact on the rural communities. A pilot tiger reserve development will undoubtedly result in some degree of socio-economic benefit through additional employment opportunities. Seven proposed candidate sites in south-eastern China within the known former range of the South China Tiger were evaluated for possible development as protected areas for the re-introduction of South China Tigers (Anderson et al . 2004). These candidate sites offer areas of approximately 15,000 to 18,000 ha each as protected areas for potential tiger reserves. A follow-up survey confirmed the potential of the top selected sites (Davis et al. 2004). Subsequent potential reserve site surveys and evaluations within the South China tiger’s historic range have also been completed under the guidance of SFA. The development of the protected areas (tiger reserve sites) will include the erection of tiger-deterrent perimeter fences, relocation of some communities currently within the proposed boundaries, habitat restoration, and the reintroduction of endemic wild ungulates to serve as prey for the tigers. An adequate density of suitable prey species is, together with available habitat size and protection, a key aspect to ensure the survival of tigers in the wild (Karanth & Stith 1999). With abundant prey, tigers could occur in densities of approximately five adult/young adult tigers within 100 km 2 (Sunquist et al. 1999). Reintroduced ungulates such as wild boar ( Sus scrofa ), the cervids muntjac ( Capreolus muntjacus ) and sika deer ( Cervus nipon ), and possibly Asian buffalo ( Bubalus bubalis ) would constitute potential prey. Species such as wild boar and sika deer are currently available from captive breeding programmes in China. South China Tigers will initially be managed in a series of large enclosures (about 60 – 100 ha) within the first pilot tiger reserve similar to the tiger breeding/rewilding facility at LVR. This phase will serve to maximize the reproduction of tigers under semi-controlled conditions, while ensuring that all the tigers also learn to hunt Asian prey species effectively before being free-released into the rest of the tiger reserve. South China Tiger ( Panthera tigris amoyensis ) Conservation Strategy 4 It is expected that the survival rate of tiger cubs born under semi-captive conditions will generally be higher than those born under free-ranging conditions. Therefore a number of South China Tigers will remain in the tiger breeding/rewilding facility to maximize the reproductive rate of the tigers. It is expected that the first tiger pilot reserves will only be able to host a few free- ranging tigers each. A total surface area of probably at least 6,000 km 2, with suitable habitat and high ungulate densities, will be needed to accommodate a truly genetically viable South China Tiger population. Other suitable protected areas will therefore in time all play an important role in establishing a network of tiger reserves that together hold a genetically viable population of South China Tigers, managed as part of a meta-population strategy. The ultimate aim should be, where feasible, to link as many of these areas as possible with corridors. These protected areas will not only be important for free-ranging tigers and wild ungulates, but will undoubtedly also play an important role in biodiversity conservation in general. Timing and Progress The first two captive-born South China tiger cubs were brought to the tiger rewilding programme in South Africa during 2003. Another two tiger cubs followed in 2004. Although one of these tigers died afterwards as a result of a disease condition (Viljoen 2005), the other three tigers soon demonstrated their ability to learn hunting skills as part of the rewilding programme used at the LVR tiger rewilding/breeding facility. An adult/young adult tiger male was relocated from a Chinese zoo to LVR in April 2007, specifically for breeding purposes. The first tiger cub born at Laohu was in November 2007 and the total number of South China tigers at the facility in South Africa currently totals 14 (Appendix II). It is hoped that the first pilot tiger reserve’s infrastructure will be ready to receive the first rewilded South China Tigers from LVR within the next 3-5 years.