幼龄华南虎的人工饲养

Hand - rearing of South China Tiger cubs

华南虎幼崽为晚成哺乳动物,刚出生时双眼未睁、不能独立取食和排便,需要人工辅助其学习和完成。初生仔兽的喂饲以少量多食为佳,前3 d以7～8次较为适宜,喂奶量由少增多。饲喂幼虎时人工奶的初始浓度以1:8较适合。幼兽需要用纱布蘸水轻擦仔兽的肛周,以刺激其排便。在8周龄左右为幼虎添加肉浆,1个月后将肉浆替换为肉条。肉类食物的添加时间为观察到幼虎牙齿长出,此时喂奶量可以随着肉量的增加而逐渐减少,直至完全断奶。饲料转换过程中,动物对人工奶的取食量逐渐下降,并且在1周内会出现身体不适,体重增长减缓,一般持续5～7 d即恢复正常。动物对肉条适应以后,而对人工奶的需求量急剧下降,此时可以增加骨头以锻炼幼兽的啃食能力,此时幼兽的体重迅速上升。

South China Tiger cubs are altricial,born with eyes closed,unable to feed or defecate independently,and when born in captivity they often must be reared by people.The feeding of newborn cubs should be in small quantities at high frequency. In the first three days after birth,milk should be fed 7 ~ 8 times per day,and the quantity should be gradually increased. The proper concentration of milk is 1：8.The perianal area should be stimulated by massage,using gauze dipped in water to help cubs defecate.We provided meat paste to cubs at 8 weeks of age,and then replaced the paste by pieces of meat one month later.The proper time for meat feeding is when cubs have developed teeth.Feeding of milk should decline gradually as the quantity of meat increases and should ultimately stop.During the period of change from a milk to a meat diet,cubs appear unfit for about one week during which time the increase in body weight slows.This reverts to normal in five to seven days.When cubs have adapted to eating pieces of meat,bones should be provided to develop the gnawing ability.