PHOTOGRAPH SIBERIAN TIGERS & Giant Pandas IN CHINA Snow - January 2009
Siberian Tiger Breeding Programs
The Siberian Tiger is the largest cat in the world, weighing up to 600lbs. It is now among the world's ten most endangered species with the worldwide wild population now less than 250. The population in China has decreased from 120 in the 1970s to less than 20 today. In 1993, fearing that the Chinese demand for body parts would drive the tiger to extinction by the year 2000, the Chinese government imposed a ban on trade in tigers and their parts. According to TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring global network, the ban has been a great success and China's domestic market for tiger parts in traditional medicines has been virtually eliminated. Breeding centres have been introduced to increase the number of tigers in China and the ultimate goal is to re-introduce their offspring into the wild.
Tiger Re-Introduction Program
To date no captive tigers have been successfully released into the wild, although tigers have been sent to a small area resembling an alpine forest in the Changbaishan Reserve, close to the North Korean border. It is an excellent wild habitat and a good exercise in all aspects of training, yet still a big difference from actually being in the wild. Four captive-bred tigers have been sent from China to a 200 square kilometre facility in South Africa. They are being weaned away from their handlers and the tigers have now begun to hunt animals. One of these tigers died and has since been replaced. The expectation is that the offspring of these animals will have regenerated their natural instincts and be able to fully support themselves in the wild. The plan is then to return the offspring to designated wild tiger territories in China.
Hengdao Hezi Feline Breeding Centre
The Hengdao Hezi Feline Breeding Centre was established in 1986 with just eight tigers. That population has now grown to in excess of 750. It is situated some 5 hours train journey north of Harbin near to Mudanjiang in the Heilongjiang Province. Heilongijang is in the north-east of China close to the Russian border, and is the home of most wild Siberian Tigers in China. The centre has successfully introduced two male purebred Siberian Tigers from Germany to help prevent inbreeding and genetic deterioration. 84 new tiger cubs were born here in 2007 between March and June, and there were 13 more mothers still expecting. This has now become the largest Siberian Tiger breeding centre in the world. You can even find the enormous Liger (a cross between a male lion and a female tiger) here.
Siberian Tiger Park, Harbin
This park is located on the north bank of the Songhua River to the north-west of Harbin and occupies some 355 acres. There are over 500 purebred Siberian Tigers here with 100 visible to the public. In addition visitors can also see White Tigers, Lions, Lynx, Leopards, Black Pumas and Bengal Tigers. The mature tiger area is 89 acres and has 30 tigers or so approximately 7 to 8 years old. In the younger tiger area there are over 40 lovely active tigers about 2 years old. Visitors can see them playing and fighting with each other. Younger tigers are kept in another area, often snuggling together for warmth.
Wolong Giant Panda Reserve
Wolong Giant Panda Reserve was first established in 1963. Unbelievably it was not until 1962, when the Giant Panda was on the verge of extinction that the the hunting of the Giant Panda in China was banned. Wolong is now the world's largest breeding base and also China's largest natural reserve. It occupies some 500,000 acres in Sichuan Province and it's original objective was to breed the animals in captivity. Re-introduction into the wild of captive bred pandas is now their goal, and this was successfully achieved in April 2006. A bear named Xiang Xiang was released after 3 years of training at Wolong. He now wears a GPS collar and is found and checked over once a month. It is now the reserve's aim to train and release between 10 and 20 bears on an annual basis. Construction of a huge new centre one square kilometre in size began in April 2008. Twenty fenced in fields will also be constructed for feeding and breeding purposes. There is an estimated 150 Pandas in the reserve of which 67 are in captivity.
Panda & Tiger Photography in Snow
The aim of this trip is to photograph our subjects in snow. Of course we cannot absolutely guarantee this but two feet of snow will typically fall during December, January & February. The animals are most active in the colder conditions so as long as you are well clothed, (temperatures can get as low as -20 degrees) conditions should be ideal. The tiger photography will be done through partly open windows of a bus and the pandas will be photographed from outside their enclosures. We will be a small group (max 8 persons) and will have the whole bus to ourselves. Fighting for window space will not be an issue.
Harbin Ice Festival
We will have free time in Harbin to photograph the Ice Festival. Huge blocks of ice are cut from the ground and carved into amazing sculptures. The sheer size of some of these structures is overwhelming and all are colourfully illuminated from within. Even the footpaths are impressive. Blocks of ice lit from below lead the visitors around the huge site. There are ice walls to climb and mazes to walk through as well as huge firework displays. Bright neon coloured lights buried deep within the blocks of ice shine through the night. Some of these incredible structures are up to 30 metres high. Your cameras will certainly be working overtime.
Tian'anmen Square & Forbidden City, Beijing
On our return to Beijing we should arrive at our hotel soon after mid-day. Our hotel is close to Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square. We will have the opportunity to spend part of the afternoon in the square and later inside the Forbidden City, which is in my opinion the highlight of Beijing.
Exploratory Trip
This trip has been well researched but has not been tried and tested. This will be the first time that Photographers on Safari have visited these locations. The agent in China are the same as used on my last Giant Panda & China Highlights Tour. They were brilliant in re-arranging our itinerary while we were in China during the recent disastrous earthquake. A similar trip visiting just two of these three locations is run annually by a top American photo company. This will be a non-profit making trip and the price will never be as cheap again. Photographs on this page have not been taken by Photographers on Safari, but have been supplied by an agent. You should be aware that it is possible that we may at some stage witness distressing scenes that we would not see in the UK, when live animals or birds are occasionally fed to the tigers.
Itinerary
Day 01 Thursday 08 Jan 2009;
Depart London
Day02,
Arrive Beijing (your flight arrives at 10:35am), Fly from Beijing to Chengdu pick you up at Chengdu Airport and transfer to overnight in 4* Xinhua Int’l hotel (today no service in Beijing, but only air ticket).(D)
Day03,
Drive to the Wolong Reserve; late afternoon visit Panda Garden, overnight in 4* Wolong hotel. (BLD)
Day04,
Full day photograph the pandas in the Garden around the Panda Enclosure, overnight in 4* Wolong hotel. (BLD)
Day05,
Full day photograph the pandas in the Garden around the Panda Enclosure, and at about 16:00 drive back to Chengdu for night in 4* Xinhua Int’l hotel. (BLD)
Day06,
Drive to Chengdu and fly to Harbin, sightseeing in Harbin City if time permits, overnight in 4* Rongfu Conifer hotel. (BLD)
Day07,
Full day photograph tigers in the Siberian Tibet Park via park bus, overnight in 4* Rongfu Conifer hotel, and in the evening enjoy the Ice and Snow Festival (Ice Sculpture Lanterns).(B/L/D)
Full day photograph tigers in the Siberian Tibet Park via park bus, overnight in 4* Rongfu Conifer hotel, and in the evening enjoy the Ice and Snow Festival (Ice Sculpture Lanterns).(B/L/D)
Day09,
Sightseeing in Harbin city, and in the afternoon take train (about 5-6 hours) to Mudianjiang, overnight in 4* Jinding hotel or Beishan hotel.(B/L/D)
Day10,
Full day photograph tigers in the Hengdao Hezi Siberian Tiger Park via park car, overnight in 4* Jinding hotel or Beishan hotel.(B/L/D)
Full day photograph tigers in the Hengdao Hezi Siberian Tiger Park via park car, overnight in 4* Jinding hotel or Beishan hotel.(B/L/D)
Day12,
Drive to Mudanjiang Airport for earlier flight (usually only one flight departure at 07:30, arrive Beijing at about 10:00) to Beijing, and at Beijing pick you up and transfer to 4* Redwall hotel for night (this hotel just beside of Forbidden City, but per the availablity while your reservation), if time permits in the afternoon visit Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square. (B/L/D)
Day13 Wednesday 20 Jan 2009
Drive to Beijing Airport for your int’l flight departure.(B)
Repercussions from Wenchuan Earthquake May 2008
Cost;
Holiday cost £2950
Excludes international flight (approx £450.00)
