The Siberian tiger, which is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and indiscriminate poaching, is currently on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHEONGJU, April 29 (Korea Bizwire) —One of two Siberian tigers born at Cheongju Zoo in North Chungcheong Province, South Korea, has passed away. The male tiger, named Hoboom, was born in 2007 and died at the age of 15.
The zoo stated that Hoboom had been suffering from paralysis in his hind legs before his death and failed to wake up from anesthesia after being treated at Chungbuk National University Animal Hospital.
The cause of death is believed to be a disease caused by aging, according to the zoo veterinarian. To prevent inbreeding, the zoo spayed and neutered Hoboom and his younger sister Hosoon and safely merged the siblings together.
Hoboom is taken to the operating room at Cheongju Zoo for spay/neuter surgery.
Cheongju Zoo collected Hoboom’s sperm during the neutering procedure in order to restore the endangered Siberian tiger as a second generation, which is currently stored at Chonbuk National University College of Veterinary Medicine at ultra-low temperatures.
The sperm will be used for artificial insemination when a suitable bride is found in the future.
The Siberian tiger, which is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and indiscriminate poaching, is currently on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is under international protection.
The Siberian tiger, which is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and indiscriminate poaching, is currently on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The population of the Siberian tiger is very small in Korea, limiting breeding and disease research. Cheongju Zoo was designated as a conservation organization outside of the wildlife habitat in 2014 and has been carrying out conservation projects for endangered animals.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
