The tiger was lurking in a corn field and suddenly pounced on cattle herded by Jin Zhencheng, a 68-year old farmer from Xijiashan Village of Chunhui City.

After the cattle escaped, the tiger turned and attacked the cowherd, whose arms were clawed, his right clavicle fractured and legs scratched in the struggle with the tiger.

Another cowherd in the village rushed to the site and frightened the tiger away, according to the police.

The old man is out of danger after receiving emergency treatment at a local hospital.

After examining the tiger's footprints at the site, zoological experts said that the tiger lives in a forest near the village.

Villagers said that tiger footprints had been seen in the area before, but it is the first time a tiger has attacked a man.

Siberian tigers are an endangered species. There are no more than 20 Siberian tigers living in the wild in northeast China, zoologists said. However, recent attacks on livestock show that their habitat is improving.