From Reuters:
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 ($2,900) reward.
Nine months later, officials admitted the photos were faked, state media said, citing sources at a press conference held by the Shaanxi province government.