Two Siberian tigers frolic at the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 19, 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
HARBIN, July 29 (Xinhua) -- Friday marks the 7th International Tiger Day. Siberian tigers are among the world's most endangered species and northeast China is one of their main habitats.
China is trying to expand the habitats of wild Siberian tigers and to breed them in captivity. Here are six key facts about Siberian tigers in the country:
[25 years]
The average life span of a captive Siberian tiger is around 25 years. Wild tigers are believed to have slightly shorter lives.
Siberian tigers play at the Siberian Tiger Park in Hengdaohezi Township of Hailin City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
[3 years]
Female Siberian tigers reach sexual maturity at the age of three.
[250-350 kg]
The typical weight range of a male Siberian tiger is 250-350 kg, and females grow to 170 kg.
A Siberian tiger licks claws at the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Nov. 19, 2012. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
[5-10 kg/day]
A Siberian tiger should eat at least 5-10 kg of meat per day. At China's Hengdaohezi Siberian tiger breeding center, tigers are fed beef, chicken, lamb and duck.
[up to 5 cubs]
A female Siberian tiger gives birth to 1-5 cubs each time. Some of the newborn cubs at the center stay with the tigress, while most of them are looked after by breeders.
A Siberian tiger licks her baby at the Siberian Tiger Park in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 6, 2015. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
[100 cubs/year]
About 100 cubs are born each year at Hengdaohezi Siberian tiger breeding center, which plans mating and births to ensure the cats pass on good genes.
DNA tests have used since 2001 to prevent inbreeding.
The center currently is home to over 1,000 Siberian tigers.
Siberian tigers wait for food in the Siberian Tiger Park in Harbin, capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, March 22, 2013. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)
