- Video shows the endangered animal roaming in a Chinese reserve
- The predator is seen fetching its catch at night on infrared footage
- First time a wild Siberian tiger is clearly recorded on camera in China
- Less than 23 Siberian tigers are left in China - fewer than precious pandas
Impressive footage of a rare Siberian tiger roaming in the wild has emerged from China. The
beautiful big cat was caught on an infrared camera in the Northeast
Taxus Chinensi Natural Reserve Area in Heilongjiang - China's northern
most province - on January 17, reports the People's Daily Online.
This
is the first time a wild Siberian tiger has been clearly recorded on
camera in China, according to the report. These predators, considered
endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, are
even more precious than pandas in China - with only 18 to 22 left in the
country.
Rare sight: A Siberian tiger was captured on camera with its prey in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province
Playing: The striped beauty looks straight into the camera with its catch almost as if he is showing off
Striking: This recent footage is the first time a wild Siberian tiger has been filmed on video so clearly
According the report, expert analysis indicated that it was a male tiger ranging from two-and-a-half to three-years-old. The
footage shows two clips of the predator, the first was captured on
January 1 of him casually walking up to the camera in the snow, and
curiously looking into the lens.
Attracted by the LED indicator on the hidden infrared camera, he gets so close to the it looks as if he is smothering it. His eyes, whiskers and nose literally touches the camera, and his breath steams up the lens.
Curious: Earlier footage filmed on January 1 shows the same tiger just inches away from the lens
Stunning: Siberian tigers are extremely rare animals with small numbers left in the wild in northern China
The second clip, which was captured on January 17, shows the same tiger filmed on camera at night with its prey. His
wild eyes are glowing in the dark, and he is looking straight into the
lens playing with his catch - almost as if he is showing off what he has
just hunted for dinner. The striped beauty continues to walk up to the camera throughout the footage before running off into the dark snowy forest.
Siberian tigers are the world's largest cats and are extremely rare animals. They are listed on the IUCN
as 'endangered,' which is the second level of threatened species from a
list of three: Critically endangered, endangered and vulnerable. It means, the Siberian tiger is 'a species considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.'
Their dwindling population is caused by a loss of habitat due to deforestation, and illegal hunting. According to National Geographic, there are an estimated 400 to 500 currently living in the wild, primarily in eastern Russia, North Korea and China.
The population of Siberian tigers in China is estimated at 18 to 22, a mere one per cent of the 1,864 wild pandas found in the country.
Wild eyes: This male Siberian tiger was attracted to the the LED indicator on the hidden infrared camera
Intrigued: Throughout the footage male tiger continuously walked up to the camera during the night
source
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