“The stripe comparison shows that it is the same tiger by two camera trappings,” Dr. Jiang Guangshun says, Executive Director of Feline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry Administration.

 

The distance between two camera trappings is about 5 kilometers. As long as 6-month of territory maintenance indicates this tiger has occupied this area as its home range, Shi Quanhua estimated, Head of Asian Big Cats Team, WWF China. 

 

Suiyang Laoyeling National Nature Reserve, covering 712.78 km2, close to both Russia and Hunchun Nature Reserve, is part of an important corridor for Amur tigers for entering China. The latest surveys also indicate a relatively high density of tiger prey, particularly Roe deer and Wild boar. Therefore, this nature reserve is a priority area for Amur tigers establishing a survival population along border area and further moving into inland habitat of Northeast China.

 

“It is a male adult tiger, and its territory maintenance along border will be very important in gene and population exchange between China and Russia,” Dr. Jiang Guangshun said.

 

The infrared cameras in Sanchahe Forest Farm are jointly set up by Suiyang Forestry Bureau, Feline Research Center of Chinese State Forestry Administration and WWF. A consistent monitoring by these infrared cameras will help us to understand the dynamics of Amur tigers and prey in this key area.

 

Currently, fewer than 500 Amur tigers remain in the wild, while China has only its own number at between 18 and 22.