Ailing Siberian Tiger recovering from flu
( 2002-04-15 17:12 ) (8 )

Babe, a rare male Siberian tiger, is responding to an all-out effort by wildlife experts in recent weeks to save the seriously ill animal.

Babe, seven, has charmed crowds of visitors since he arrived at Qingying Park in Fuyang City, in East China's Anhui Province, at the age of six months.

In mid-March, Babe developed flu symptoms accompanied by a high fever and bleeding in his stomach and nose. Drugs to reduce the fever failed to bring relief.

Babe's condition concerned park staff, and veterinarians came from several neighboring cities and the provincial capital Hefei to care for him. They all donated money to guarantee an expensive course of treatment.

Protein injections during the past week had boosted Babe's energy, and proper treatment would hopefully prevent further deterioration, said a park official.

Babe could now turn over and had started to eat, though he was still under intensive care around the clock, said He Xu, a wildlife expert.

The Siberian tiger is among the world's ten most endangered species, with only some 300 living in the wild. Most of the Siberian tigers in China were bred at zoos or wildlife centers.