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Sex imbalance as endangered Siberian tigers show signs of recovery

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16 December 2015

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Total population of 562 big cats signals a rise in numbers of the threatened species. Picture: Dmitry Mesentsev

The most detailed census of Siberian tigers in the Far East of Russia, revealed this week, shows a total population of 562 big cats, signaling a rise in numbers of the threatened species. But there appears to be a significant sex imbalance, with more females than males especially in Primorsky region, the most populous area for these rare animals. 

The 2015 Tiger Census shows between 417 and 425 individuals alive in this region, of which 100 are males, and between 169 and 172 are females, with 72 cubs. The gender of 76 to 81 animals is uncertain.

In the Khabarovsk region, there were traces of 100-109 tigers, of which 30 to 33 were male, and 36 to 38 were female. Here were up to 28 cubs, with another 8 to 10 big cats where the gender could not be determined. 

Siberian tiger


Siberian tiger


Siberian tigers

Currently, it is known that Amur tigers live in Russia and China. Potentially they must dwell in North Korea. Pictures: Land of Leopard, Dmitry Mesentsev

In the Jewish Autonomous Region, four tigers were identified - 2 male and 2 female. In the Amur Region live 2 tigers, one female, one male.

China is committed to next year conducting a similar census of Siberian tigers on its territory, for the first time.

There are hopes that North Korea will join the attempt to measure very precisely the number of the endangered tigers. Sergey Aramilev, the director of the Primorsky branch of the Siberian Tiger Centre, said: 'Currently, it is known that Amur tigers live in Russia and China. Potentially they must dwell in North Korea. 

'The Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation is negotiating with North Korea on participation of (our) experts in the evaluation of the Amur tiger population in the country.' 

Tracing the tiger


Tracing the tiger

Tiger Cesus 2015: experts are counting the tiger's traces. Picture: Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve, Cetre 'Amur Tiger'

According to the director of the Amur branch of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Yuri Darman, the northern part of North Korea has suitable conditions for the tigers. Analysis of satellite imagery of North Korea has shown this to be the case, he said. And it is known a female with two cubs has crossed the border between Russia and North Korea.

In recent years, the population of Amur tigers living in the wild has been put at around 500, so a figure of 562, not including China and North Korea, is seen as a sign of the species in recovery after years of being driven almost to extinction by poachers. 

The Russian government, including President Vladimir Putin personally, has spearheaded a drive for tougher legal sanctions against poaching and the provision of national parks where tigers can safely roam. 

Comments (3)

Because the wood bison is the closest living relatives to the extinct steppe bison (vanished from there cca 6,000 yars ago) the re-introduction of this subspecies was a smart thing for the biodiversity.
Tigers were not native to North America. Tigers arrived in Alaska from Siberia (and not the other way around!). In Newfoundland you can reintroduce the grizzly bears and the grey wolves (and NOT the tigers that are an invasive species (!).
Udrea Stefan-Sebastian, Bucharest/Romania
14/01/2018 20:47
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Canada has given Russia wood bison for re-introduction. Russia should give Canada about 20 Siberian tigers to introduce into Newfoundland where there are 160,000 moose and no predators and no agriculture and few people except on the coast. A second population would make them more secure from diseases like distemper. If the snow is not too deep Newfoundland should be able to support 1,500 to 2,500 tigers. Siberian tigers were native to North America. Their bones have been found in Alaska.
Ted Gorsline, Hamburg Germany
21/12/2015 04:49
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it is good to see that at least on some things some countries who might be / are enemies otherwise, can work together.
Benedikt, Moscow,Russia
16/12/2015 22:57
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