The population of wild tigers and leopards in northeastern China has seen steady growth, with over 35 cubs born in the past year, the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park administration said on Tuesday.

The administration has monitored the birth of more than 20 Siberian tigers and more than 15 Amur leopards in the past year. Their activity area exceeds 1.1 million hectares, accounting for about 78 percent of the park's total area.

Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, mainly live in Russia's Far East and northeastern China. One of the world's most endangered species, about 500 Siberian tigers are believed to be living in the wild. Amur leopards, also known as the Far Eastern Leopards, are also among the most endangered felines in the world.

In October 2021, China officially designated the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, which spans an area of over 1.4 million hectares in the northeastern provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang.

The park has implemented a series of measures to protect wildlife, such as removing factories and mines and restoring vegetation.

(Cover: Siberian Tigers at Hengdaohezi Siberian Tiger Park in Mudanjiang City, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, January 7, 2024. /CFP)