Sipa USA
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Sipa USA
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They do say the camera adds 10 pounds.
Siberian tigers at a zoo in China’s Harbin province have captured attention for their paunchy physiques, but a zoo official claims the photos were simply just taken at an unflattering angle.
A representative for the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Park reportedly said that it is normal for the big cats to gain weight over the frigid winter season and that they usually return to their normal weight by summer. Temperatures in Harbin can drop as low as 18 degrees below zero in January and February.
But a spokesperson for the International Fund for Animal Warfare told Metro that “based on the photos, it appears these tigers are obese.”
“Captive tigers do not have to hunt for their food and stockpiling weight for lean times is not necessary,” the IFAW said.
Siberian tigers are the biggest cats. The typical weight for males is between 400 and 675 pounds, and 220-310 for females, the group Defenders of Wildlife said.
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