South African cat keeper Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen sits with Bibi. Riana lives with four cheetahs, a lion cub and two wolves. Riana van Nieuwenhuizen bought her first cheetah, Fiela, in 2006, after realizing the problems cheetahs face and that they're heading towards extinction. In November 2007 she launched the Fiela Funds Cheetah Breeding Project with a hectare of land provided by Emoya Estate located in Bloemfontein, South Africa. Visitors on game drives at Emoya have the opportunity to meet Fi

Cheetah Fiela waits for her supper of raw chicken pieces. [CFP]

Cat keeper Riana lies in bed with her cheetahs and dogs. [CFP]

Cloey the dog plays with her friend Mafusa the cheetah. [CFP]

Cat keeper Riana's nephew Riaan Viljoen, 19, sits with feila the cheetah. [CFP]

South African cat keeper Riana Van Nieuwenhuizen lives with four cheetahs, a lion cub and two wolves.

Riana van Nieuwenhuizen bought her first cheetah, Fiela, in 2006, after realizing the problems cheetahs face and that they're heading towards extinction.

In November 2007 she launched the Fiela Funds Cheetah Breeding Project with a hectare of land provided by Emoya Estate located in Bloemfontein, South Africa.

Visitors on game drives at Emoya have the opportunity to meet Fiela and learn more about this endangered species.

Hundreds of Thai anti-government protestors marching peacefully from the Government House, arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok as they were rallying to pressure Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to resign on Feb. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)

Hundreds of Thai anti-government protestors marching peacefully from the Government House, arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok as they were rallying to pressure Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to resign on Feb. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)

Hundreds of Thai anti-government protestors marching peacefully from the Government House, arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok as they were rallying to pressure Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to resign on Feb. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)

Hundreds of Thai anti-government protestors marching peacefully from the Government House, arrive at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok as they were rallying to pressure Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya to resign on Feb. 25, 2009. (Xinhua/Thana Nuntavoranut)

A group of Thai anti-government protesters were demonstrating at the Government House Wednesday night after protesting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier.

Musicians play near a bonfire during rituals in celebration of Sirni Zagovezni festival in the village of Dobrinishte, some 156km (97 miles) of Sofia, Bulgaria, March 1, 2009. People in this region believe they can chase away evil spirits with fire rituals on Sirni Zagovezni. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

A man carries a tyre to a bonfire during rituals in celebration of Sirni Zagovezni festival in the village of Dobrinishte, some 156km (97 miles) of Sofia, Bulgaria, March 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Musicians play near a bonfire during rituals in celebration of Sirni Zagovezni festival in the village of Dobrinishte, some 156km (97 miles) of Sofia, Bulgaria, March 1, 2009. People in this region believe they can chase away evil spirits with fire rituals on Sirni Zagovezni. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Cai Mingchao, a well-known antique collector, identified himself as the mystery bidder in a statement released in Beijing by the National Treasures Fund, which is dedicated to retrieving Chinese relics from abroad. (Xinhua photo)

Cai Mingchao is seen at the press conference March 2, 2009. (Xinhua photo)

BEIJING, March 2 - A Chinese antique collector said Monday he was the mystery buyer who placed the winning bid for two bronze relics at a Paris auction last week, but that he would not pay for them.

The announcement was the latest twist to a 150-year-old drama over the rabbit and rat bronze heads, which British and French forces looted from the imperial Summer Palace in Beijing towards the end of the Second Opium War.

The bronzes, part of the art collection of late French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge, sold for 15.7 million euros (20.3 million dollars) each at the Christie's auction in Paris.

Authorities in Beijing had repeatedly demanded the sale not go ahead, and that the relics be returned to China.

Cai Mingchao, a well-known antique collector, identified himself as the mystery bidder in a statement released in Beijing by the National Treasures Fund, which is dedicated to retrieving Chinese relics from abroad.

"I believe that any Chinese person would stand up at this time... I am making an effort to fulfill my own responsibilities," Cai said.

"But I must stress that this money I cannot pay."

The statement did not specify whether Cai could not pay for the relics because he did not have the money, or whether his inability to pay was for other reasons, such as his conscience not allowing him to buy looted items.

Officials with the fund did not take questions when they gathered reporters and released the statement, which said Cai is an advisor to the body.

Cai, who is also the head of a Chinese auction house, hit the headlines in 2006 when he paid 116 million Hong Kong dollars (14.95 million dollars) for a Ming dynasty Buddha image at a Sotheby's auction in Hong Kong.

The treasures fund praised Cai's actions.

"Since the auction has taken place, there has been a lot of guessing about who was behind the winning bid," fund vice-director Niu Xianfeng said in the same statement.

"I formally announce that this bidder is a Chinese person who should be admired. He is an advisor to the fund... Mr Cai Mingchao.

"We want to again stress what Cai Mingchao stressed -- this money can not be paid."

It said Cai had registered with Christie's to participate in the auction.

After the sale, China reacted furiously with government authorities warning Christie's it would face reprisals such as tougher checks on its Chinese operations.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said last week the auction had "harmed the cultural rights and hurt the feelings of China's people and will seriously impact (Christie's) development in China".

"(The agency) resolutely opposes and condemns all auctions of artefacts illegally taken abroad. Christie's must take responsibility for the consequences created by this auction," it said.

Luo Lin, Director of the State Administration of Work Safety, visits injured miners at a hospital in Gujiao after the deadly coal mine blast killed at least 74 miners in Gujiao, North China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

Injured miners receive medical treatment at a hospital in Gujiao after the deadly coal mine blast killed at least 74 miners in Gujiao, North China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

Rescuers carry a body of a victim who was killed by a coal mine blast in the city of Gujiao, in North China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

Medical staff treats survived miners at a coal mine in north China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

An ambulance arrives at a coal mine, which was hit by a gas blast, in north China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009. [Xinhua]

Luo Lin, Director of the State Administration of Work Safety, visits injured miners at a hospital in Gujiao after the deadly coal mine blast killed at least 74 miners in Gujiao, North China's Shanxi province, February 22, 2009.