Now Shenzhen | May 23, 2022
LEAVING the hustle and bustle of Shenzhen on Saturday morning, a group of 23 expats and their families, most of whom are wildlife photographers and vloggers, arrived in the city of Shaoguan in northern Guangdong after a four-hour coach journey, and started a two-day trip during which they embraced nature and visited the South China Tigers to mark the International Day for Biological Diversity, which falls on May 22 every year.
At 8:30 a.m. yesterday, the group headed to the much-anticipated South China Tiger Breeding and Research Base to get up close with and know more about the critically endangered tiger species.
Despite the heavy rains, the group’s excitement remained unabated when they were first greeted by a 6-year-old male tiger named Xiaoman. They showcased their photography skills to capture the majestic animal’s best moves.
At the tiger kindergarten, children and adults were delighted by the adorable and playful 5-month-old twin tigers, Lianhua and Furong, who were born on New Year’s Eve.
They also closely admired the fast and powerful movements of the twins’ sisters, Yuanyuan and Qingqing.
Colombian biologist Isaac Cohen told Shenzhen Daily that it was meaningful and educational to visit the tigers with his daughter on the International Day for Biological Diversity. “The South China Tigers are very special species that most people don’t know, so it’s important to teach them about their existence and raise their awareness on the protection and conservation of the animals,” he said while reminding his daughter to watch the wild animals’ behavior from a safe distance.
Sushil Asar from India, a consultant at IBM’s Shenzhen office, praised the local government for doing a good job in their tiger conservation work and said he would bring his children to visit the base and introduce them to the tigers.
At the base, the expats also gave the tigers English names and joined the twins’ online adoption.
Through the online adoption system, expats will be kept updated with the tigers’ latest photos and conditions, which they can share on their social media to bring more attention to the species. (Continued on P4)
ARTICLE FROM: Shenzhen Daily