Zimbabwe and China in tiger deal

[SunWuKong]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4250238.stm

Zimbabwe and China in tiger deal

Zimbabwe is about to import four endangered Siberian tigers from China for captive breeding, officials say.

Zimbabwe Tourism Minister Francis Nhema told the Herald newspaper China had received zebras, elephants and impala as part of an "exchange programme".

Correspondents say the move shows President Mugabe is wooing China.

He is trying to strengthen ties with the Asian giant as his country is increasingly isolated in the world because of a poor human rights record.

"We do not have the tiger in this country and we would like to benefit from the exchange programme with China," Mr Nhema was quoted by the state-controlled Herald as saying.

"We are happy that three experts found out animal habitats friendly to the requirements that are compulsory for tiger breeding and we expect the animals would be here as soon as possible."

'Cruel'

The tigers are intended for captive breeding in the Hwange National Park, 500km (1,200 miles) west of the capital Harare.

A biologist working for the National University of Science and Technology in Bulawayo, Peter Mundy, told AP news agency the plan was "a complete load of garbage", adding that the country even lacked the resources to look after its own wildlife.

"It would be cruel," Mr Mundy said, adding that the park's seasons, climate and vegetation were not suitable for those animals, whose native region is seasonally covered in snow.

But Dick Pitman, head of a conservationist organisation, the Zambezi Society, said he approved of the plan provided it was run by tiger experts with adequate foreign funding, and the animals were not allowed to leave the park.

[Banana]

"It would be cruel," Mr Mundy said, adding that the park's seasons, climate and vegetation were not suitable for those animals, whose native region is seasonally covered in snow.

That's what I was thinking. Siberian? In Africa?

[SunWuKong]

Originally Posted by Banana

"It would be cruel," Mr Mundy said, adding that the park's seasons, climate and vegetation were not suitable for those animals, whose native region is seasonally covered in snow.

That's what I was thinking. Siberian? In Africa?

that's sort of like having polar bears in the San Diego Zoo or the Orlando Seaworld. i always found that odd.

but ok, it's different from this particular issue because those bears are kept in enclosed habitats that are artificially kept cold.

[rice cracker]

There was a tiger in the Como Zoo in Minneapolis. That thing looked miserable.

[Deadpool]

TIgers can survive in virtually all climates, except Minnesota.