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China has sacked a number of Government officials and arrested a man in connection with a set of fake photographs that local authorities had said was proof of the existence of a highly endangered tiger.
In October, forestry officials in Zhenping county in northern Shaanxi province published photos of a tiger in a forest setting, saying they were proof of the existence of the South China tiger.
A local farmer who produced the photos was paid a 20,000 yuan ($3832) reward.
Nine months later, officials admitted the photos were faked, state media said.