ON THE EDGE OF EXTINCTION - A - THE TIGER (Panthera tigris)

[peter]

THE FUTURE OF THE AMUR TIGER ACCORDING TO PIKUNOV - PART IV

k - Tiger corridors

In Part III of the series, two tiger corridors in Primorskii Krai (one running from south to north in the southeastern part and one running from east to west in the northern part) were discussed. 

Almost 20 years before Pikunov's article was published, he was interviewed by Bruce G. Marcot about the need of tiger corridors. In a paper prepared for a Web presentation, Marcot discussed the need of tiger corridors in 3 regions:

- an east-west corridor between the tip of northeastern China and the Khabarovskii Krai;
- a north-south corridor in Primorski Krai between the extreme southeastern districts and the Bikin region, and
- an east-west corridor between the northern tip of North-Korea and the eastern tip of northeastern China: 

http://www.plexusowls.com/PDFs/tiger_corridors.pdf

The east-west corridor in the Bikin region was added later. According to Wolverine, a part of this corridor has been realized not so long ago.

l - China

At the turn of the century (1990-2000), Amur tigers in northeastern China were nearly extinct. The few tigers seen every now and then all came from the southwestern tip of Sichote-Alin. In an effort to change the situation, Chinese, American and Russian biologists decided for cooperation.

It had an effect. Not much later, a new reserve (Hunchun Nature Reserve) was created. The Chinese made serious work of snares as well. As the number of snares decreased, the number of tigers increased. Here's a bit more about the program started almost two decades ago (WCS):    

https://russia.wcs.org/en-us/Projects/China-Russia-Transboundary-Program.aspx

Today, however, northeastern China has not, like in 2007, over 80 tigers, but 20-30 only. That number seems to be more or less stable. It's hard to say why the number of tigers in northeastern China is relatively low.  

In the recent past, tigers migrated between the southwestern tip of Sichote-Alin and and northeastern China. They still do. It could be they prefer the southwestern part of Sichote-Alin because the conditions are better. 

The behavior of Amur tigers in northeastern China points towards unfavourable conditions. In Sichote-Alin, tigers rarely attack domestic animals. In northeastern China, however, domestic animals are targeted more often. Could point a lack of large ungulates, but there are more factors that need to be considered. Road density, human density, economic development and, last but not least, hunting all have an effect. 

All in all, it seems northeastern China is just too densely populated to have a stable population of Amur tigers. The decision to create a large new reserve just southwest of the southwestern tip of Sichote-Alin suggests the Chinese agree.

Here's a bit more on the new reserve:

2016 - https://news.mongabay.com/2016/09/china-proposes-a-huge-national-park-for-amur-tigers-and-leopards/
2017 - https://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/10074-China-s-big-cats-get-space-to-roam
2018 - https://e360.yale.edu/features/china-carves-out-a-park-for-the-imperiled-siberian-tiger

It seems they also made a few decisions on South China tigers (Panthera tigris amoyensis):

2001 - http://www.china.org.cn/english/2001/Jul/16445.htm
2015 - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320714004170 
2018 - http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201803/05/WS5a9d00e0a3106e7dcc13fa96.html
 
m - International cooperation

Although the efforts in Nepal, India, Thailand and some parts of Indonesia should not be underestimated, the Russians seem to lead the field in the department of information exchange. Here's a few links to interesting reads: 

2018 - https://wwf.ru/en/resources/news/amur/amurskiy-tigr-v-tsentre-vnimaniya-ekspertov-iz-8-stran/
2017 - https://www.wwf.de/fileadmin/fm-wwf/Publikationen-PDF/WWF-Studie-2017-Beyond-the-stripes-web.pdf

One more about the introduction of new technology. Also interesting:

2018 - https://medium.com/@WWF/tech-for-tigers-wwf-and-intel-test-ai-technology-for-monitoring-wild-tigers-in-china-2a5c93ece73c

n - China II

I'm well aware of the problems regarding trafficking, tiger farms, poaching and all the rest of it. It, however, also is a fact the Chinese authorities decided for a number of changes. There will be a new tiger reserve in the central part of southern China and there will be a new large reserve in northeastern China close to Russia. According to Miquelle, this reserve could accomodate up to 75 Amur tigers. It would be a significant contribution to the conservation of Amur tigers, provided they succeed in moving large communities out of the new reserves. A new legal framework to fight poaching is also needed. Same for anti-poaching teams. 

The conditions to accomodate wild Amur tigers in northeastern China are there. It's also clear that the intention to change the climate regarding wild animals is present. I agree a bit of pressure now and then is needed to assist them realizing their goals in the conservation department, but we have to remember it takes a long time to change a culture. Every step is important. Reply