In an innovative conservation measure, Heilongjiang Province’s Siberian Tiger Park has launched a rotational ‘light-fasting’ program to safeguard its endangered big cats from overfeeding during peak tourist seasons. The strategy, implemented across 13 free-range enclosures from February 1 to March 31, designates one enclosure daily as a no-feeding zone while maintaining normal feeding opportunities in others.
The park, operated by China Hengdaohezi Feline Breeding Center, houses over 300 Siberian tigers—nearly 200 residing in free-range habitats. During winter tourism peaks, daily visitor numbers exceed 10,000, with enthusiastic tourists feeding tigers beef strips and live chickens at designated points.
Huang Haitao, director of the park’s feeding and veterinary department, explained the biological rationale: ‘The rotating fasting model allows tigers to periodically restore natural hunger rhythms, preventing digestive system overload and preserving hunting instincts.’ The approach balances animal welfare with visitor experience, as concentrated fasting could disappoint travelers.
Implementation involves multi-channel communication including entrance notices, guided explanations, and sightseeing bus announcements. Zhang Weihua, a park driver, noted visitors’ cooperative response: ‘We create feeding opportunities in permitted areas to ensure visitor satisfaction while protecting tigers.’
Tourists like Zhou Wei from Haikou expressed support: ‘I now understand reasonable control constitutes true protection.’ The park further customizes fasting schedules based on individual tiger health, visitor flow, and feeding patterns, occasionally isolating ‘celebrity tigers’ for health monitoring when overfed.
As one of China’s three major Siberian tiger conservation facilities, the park continues refining scientific breeding systems to contribute to the species’ preservation. Siberian tigers remain critically endangered, primarily inhabiting northeastern China and eastern Russia.