Amur Tiger
Overview
Tigers are part of our planet's natural heritage, a symbol of Earth’s biodiversity. They are a keystone species, crucial for the integrity of the ecosystems in which they live. As top predators, they keep populations of prey species in check, which in turn maintains the balance between herbivores and the vegetation upon which they feed. In short, when tigers thrive, the whole ecosystem thrives. This in turn provides important financial, cultural and spiritual benefits for local communities who live with or near tigers.
The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica, also known as the Siberian tiger) is the largest of the tiger sub-species. Once found in the taiga and boreal forests of the Russian Far East, China, and the Korean peninsula, it is now restricted to two provinces in the Russian Far East, and possibly to small pockets in the border areas of China. The population of the highly endangered Amur tiger is currently estimated at 500. Among that population, 20 tigers have been periodically spotted within the borders of China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.
Amur tiger needs large territories to survive. With the growing population of human being and economic development, Amur tiger’s habitat is shrinking. Along with habitat loss, tigers have suffered from severe loss of natural prey populations such as wild deer, goats, sheep, and pigs. Large-scale habitat destruction and reduction of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the continued existence of tigers in the wild.
As Amur tiger continues to lose their habitat and prey species, they have increasingly come into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals—and sometimes people. The incident of Amur tiger attack on livestock is reported every year in Northeast China.
The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica, also known as the Siberian tiger) is the largest of the tiger sub-species. Once found in the taiga and boreal forests of the Russian Far East, China, and the Korean peninsula, it is now restricted to two provinces in the Russian Far East, and possibly to small pockets in the border areas of China. The population of the highly endangered Amur tiger is currently estimated at 500. Among that population, 20 tigers have been periodically spotted within the borders of China’s Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces.
Main Threats
Poaching persistently threats the survival of Amur tigers. Sometime the traps capture Amur tigers even if the target is ungulate.Amur tiger needs large territories to survive. With the growing population of human being and economic development, Amur tiger’s habitat is shrinking. Along with habitat loss, tigers have suffered from severe loss of natural prey populations such as wild deer, goats, sheep, and pigs. Large-scale habitat destruction and reduction of prey populations are the major long-term threats to the continued existence of tigers in the wild.
As Amur tiger continues to lose their habitat and prey species, they have increasingly come into conflict with humans as they attack domestic animals—and sometimes people. The incident of Amur tiger attack on livestock is reported every year in Northeast China.
Amur tiger on iced lake.
WWF China's work that support Amur tiger conservation
WWF China's Amur tiger conservation effort focuses on expanding and connecting nature reserves, recovery of habitat and prey, sustainable and environmentally friendly forest managment, scientific research and monitoring, policy advocacy as well as public outreach and education.
In August 2010, facilitated by WWF China and WWF Russia, Jilin province of China and neighbouring Primorsky province in Russia agreed an agreement to collaborate formally in working towards the first transboundary Amur tiger protected area.
Goal
By 2022, the next year of the tiger, both wild Amur tiger and its habitat in China will be double according to WWF’s TX2.
