The undated photo shows that Li Quan, founder of Save China's Tigers, holds the cub of South China tiger in Laohu Valley Reserve about 600 km south of Johannesburg of South Africa. A male South China tiger cub was born at Laohu Valley Reserve at 23:30, November 23, Save China's Tigers Foundation announced on Sunday. It is the first cub born to the female tiger Cathay and the male tiger Tiger Woods, who are both undergoing rewilding training at the Laohu Valley Reserve in South Africa and was also the first cub of South China tiger which was born outside of China. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    BEIJING, Nov. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A male South China tiger cub was born at a wildlife conservation reserve in the Free State province, South Africa, on Friday, the first time the animal has been born outside China, the Save China's Tigers organization announced on Sunday.

    The cub was born healthy and strong, and weighed heavier than normal at 1.2 kg, Li Quan, founder of the organization, said in a statement on the organization's website.

    "Although his eyes have not yet opened, he (the cub) is already quite vocal, especially at feeding time," the statement said.

    It is the first cub born to the female tiger, Cathay and the male tiger, TigerWoods, who are both undergoing rewilding training at the Laohu Valley Reserve in South Africa.

    After the birth, Cathay showed her motherly instincts by cleaning and licking her cub, but un-seasonally cold weather left the reserve's staff no choice but to remove the cub to prevent it from dying from exposure.

    The organization said the cub was being hand-reared and would be taught to hunt for itself.

    (Agencies)