Cathay Pacific Airways today helped to transport two Chinese Tigers from Beijing to South Africa as part of the Save China’s Tigers project, pioneered by the Save China’s Tigers Foundation.
The two tiger cubs named Cathay and Hope arrived Hong Kong today in transit to Johannesburg on this evening (Monday). The cubs are being shipped to South Africa to be taught hunting skills so that they might later be returned to China and survive in the wild. The tigers and their parents were born and raised in Shanghai Zoo.

Cathay Pacific, being the official airline sponsor of the project, hope to transport another five to seven tiger cubs from the Chinese Mainland to South Africa over the next five years in a bid to reintroduce them to the wild. It is hoped that the tigers and any offspring will be returning to their homeland in 2008.

The two tigers were born in Shanghai Zoo. The female cub, born on 21 Jan this year, is named Cathay after Cathay Pacific Airways; and the male, born on 17 February, is named Hope by supportive readers of the Sunday People newspaper in the United Kingdom.

Cathay Pacific General Manager Corporate Communication Alan Wong said: “We are most pleased to be able to get involved in this meaningful project. By transporting the tiger cubs to South Africa we will be able to help regain their hunting abilities and sustain their future development.”

Joining them in Hong Kong were celebrity actress Michelle Yeoh, Patron of the Save China’s Tigers Foundation, Ms Li Quan, Founder of the Save China’s Tigers Foundation, as well as Mr Gerry Ball, Director of the Foundation.
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