This photo taken on May 17 shows a one-month-old South China tiger cub at the zoo at Wangcheng Park in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province (XINHUA)

Wangcheng Park in Luoyang City, central China's Henan Province, declared on July 13, 2009, that they had got a breakthrough in breeding South China Tigers.

They said four baby tigers who were born this year have all passed the critical period after birth and well survived. Three of them were born on April 18 and the fourth was born on May 1.

South China Tigers are one of the most endangered animals. They can only give birth to two to three cubs for each pregnancy. However, South China Tiger cubs face a high mortality rate of over 44 percent during the first 30 days after birth.

Currently, there are only about 70 South China Tigers living in about 19 zoos or natural reserves in China.

Estimates, however, say only 20 to 30 wild South China Tigers are found living around the world.

(Xinhua News Agency July 14, 2009)