Endemic to China, the South China Tiger is one of the animals under first-class state protection. It is considered to be one of the three national treasures along with the giant panda and red ibis.
An adult South China tiger can weigh up to 160 kg, and measure 1.5 meter in body. Its powerful tail averages a meter in length.
A distinctive feature of the South China tiger is the stripes on its forehead. They resemble the Chinese character "王" which means "king."
With an average life span of 25 years, the South China tiger can be found mainly in the mountain forests south of the Yangtze River.
It is the most endangered species in the world. There are less than 100 of this magnificent animal in China and about 10 scattered in other countries.
