Tuesday, Mar 19 2024
All Cities
Choose Your City
'Numer of endemic species in lake Baikal is 1,455'
0

China set to open border with Far East to allow rare big cats to move freely

By 0 and 0 and 0
27 May 2015

0

'In nature there are no borders and predators do not have passports, so it is not in our power to tell tigers when to go to China or come back.' Picture: Phoenix foundation 

China is planning to relax controls at the state border at Primorsky Krai in the Far East to allow the free movement of rare Siberian tigers and Amur leopards.

With more of the animals trying to cross between China and Russia conservationists are keen to create conditions that will help safeguard the populations. One such move could see barbed wire removed from areas used for migration routes, to allow easy passage and prevent injuries.

According to estimates from Beijing Pedagogical University and the Forestry Department of Jilin Province, 42 Amur leopards and 28 tigers live at the border. Infrared cameras captured them almost 700 times during 2014 alone.

Jiang Guangshun, deputy director of the Feline Research Centre of the State Forestry Administration of China, said the creation of a joint initiative would help increase the numbers of big cats in the region.

Among the animals passing through the border area are the three tigers released by President Vladimir Putin a year ago. Satellite signals beamed to Moscow from collar trackers has been showing their movements and where they have preferred to spend their time and forage for food.

More commonly known as the Siberian tiger, the Amur tiger is listed as an endangered species, with less than 450 of them left in the region. Five years ago Russia launched a national strategy to protect the animal, which is the largest of the five tiger species.

Putin, an avid campaigner to save the species, was also recently behind the unveiling of a computer animated tiger cub as a new character on Russia’s longest-running children’s TV show.

Sergei Aramilev, director of the Primorsky branch of the Siberian Tiger Centre, said: 'Cooperation between Russia and China in the preservation of the Amur tiger population is essential to restore their numbers. In nature there are no borders and predators do not have passports, so it is not in our power to tell tigers when to go to China or come back.

'The recovery of the tiger numbers in China will create a backup of the population, which may in the future be used to increase the genetic diversity that is important for populations with low numbers.'

Comments (4)

Given there is a demand in some parts of Chinese society for large Feline body parts, let us hope that any Tigers or Leopards crossing the border are afforded protection sufficient to ensure they can return safely !!
Simon Robinson, Crewe UK
31/05/2015 13:57
1
0
Siberian tigers are magnificent animals. I saw a stuffed one in the Vladivostok Museum in 1993 and was astounded at its huge size. Wonderful to try and preserve these, and the Leopards too.
David Truman, Brisbane Australia
30/05/2015 18:43
2
0
They are such beautiful animals. Thanks for helping save them.
John, Cincinnati, Ohio USA
28/05/2015 00:46
11
0
Sometimes good news comes forward. Thank you :) :) :)
guri-kristine mundal, trondheim norway
27/05/2015 21:35
12
0
1

Add your comment

We welcome a healthy debate, but do not accept offensive or abusive comments. Please also read 'Siberian Times' Privacy Policy

Name

Town/Country

Add your comments

The views expressed in the comments above are those of our readers. 'Siberian Times' reserves the right to pre-moderate some comments.

Control code*

Type the code

* obligatory


News

Business

The Bank of Russia official exchange rates of foreign currencies
EUR100.24USD91.98GBP117.19Other...