(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-12-04 19:28

The experts will erect infrared cameras to "take photos of and collect more traces of various wild animals" - including South China tigers, leopards and black bears - in an area of 200,000 hectares defined by the administration, said Cao.

"We will announce the investigation results to the public in time," he said.

In a nationwide wildlife investigation during 1999-2000, the administration detected 48 traces of the possible existence of wild South China tigers and the on-going investigation is regarded as a follow-up.

It is believed that if South China tigers are still living in the wild, the number would not exceed 30. The tigers in captivity only number 60 at present.

Zhenping County was historically one of the habitats of the South China tigers, said Cao. "The special investigation by the provincial forestry bureau from June 2006 to February 2007 did discover some traces of wild South China tigers, but they are not enough to treat as fact."

"So, whether the tiger on the photo is real or not, it's still difficult to evaluate the situation of the tigers at large in the area."

As for the provincial forestry department which insists that the tigers exist in Zhenping County, Cao said, "We believe the provincial government and forestry bureau will take the public's scepticism scientifically and seriously."

Zhu Lieke, deputy director of the administration, wrapped up the press conference with an apparent attempt to diffuse the fiery debate, asking if the reporters present had visited a national museum near Loch Ness in Scotland.

"There are a lot of photographs of the Loch Ness monster in the museum. People care about the existence of the monster rather than the authenticity of the photos," he said.

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