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| Rare Siberian tigers found dead | Rare Siberian tigers found dead |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Two Siberian tiger cubs have been found dead in a refrigerator at a Chinese zoo less than a week after another incident involving the endangered species. | Two Siberian tiger cubs have been found dead in a refrigerator at a Chinese zoo less than a week after another incident involving the endangered species. |
| They were found in a ticketing office at a wildlife park in China's central Hubei province.. | |
| Tiger body parts are treasured as medicines in China. | Tiger body parts are treasured as medicines in China. |
| On Thursday a female Siberian tiger was found dead in the same area. Thieves had broken into its cage, tranquillised the animal, then butchered it. | On Thursday a female Siberian tiger was found dead in the same area. Thieves had broken into its cage, tranquillised the animal, then butchered it. |
| That tiger's remains were found by zoo keepers. | That tiger's remains were found by zoo keepers. |
| It had been beheaded and skinned, and its legs had been removed. | It had been beheaded and skinned, and its legs had been removed. |
| Only an estimated 400 Siberian tigers still remain in the wild. | Only an estimated 400 Siberian tigers still remain in the wild. |
| Trade ban | Trade ban |
| China was once the biggest market for tiger parts, which are prized for their medicinal qualities. | China was once the biggest market for tiger parts, which are prized for their medicinal qualities. |
| Tiger fur is also a status symbol in some parts of the country. | Tiger fur is also a status symbol in some parts of the country. |
| But Beijing banned domestic trade in all tigers in 1993. | But Beijing banned domestic trade in all tigers in 1993. |
| Tiger parts are now largely unavailable from traditional chemists. | Tiger parts are now largely unavailable from traditional chemists. |
| However, the country has pushed for a reopening of the business, based on farm-bred, captive animals. | However, the country has pushed for a reopening of the business, based on farm-bred, captive animals. |
| Around a dozen private tiger farms operate under government licence. | Around a dozen private tiger farms operate under government licence. |
| Most have been heavily criticised for the poor conditions of their animals. | Most have been heavily criticised for the poor conditions of their animals. |