Amur Tigers

[BorneanTiger]

(08-09-2019, 05:46 AM)Rishi Wrote:

(08-09-2019, 12:19 AM)Sanju Wrote:

@wwf_tigers
The Amur tigers are slowly expanding into mainland China. Our camera traps in the Amur Heilong landscape between Russia and China are studying their transboundary movement. According to IUCN, the latest tiger population estimated of 2015 in China is >7.
{from our Camera Trap Series} © Huangnihe Nature Reserve

...40+ as of 2018. Lots of them moving in from Russia.

@Rishi @Sanju That reminds me of North Korea, which borders Manchura (Northeast China) and the Russian Far East. According to Rak et al.: http://www.wcsrussia.org/DesktopModules/...attachment

"Over 700 km of survey routes were combined with interviews of local people to assess the status of tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), their prey and habitat in 6000 km2 of Lyangan Province, North Korea. This high, mountainous region of North Korea, on the border of Jilin Province, China, and close to the Chinese Biosphere Reserve Changbaishan, was selected for initial surveys because it was believed to contain important tiger habitat. Eight tracks of tigers were reported on survey routes (including 5 accompanying photos) and 24 accounts of tigers came from interviews of local people who reported tracks, livestock depredation, visual sightings, and one attack on a man. One report of two leopards was filed in the southern portion of Lyangan Province. Both survey routes and information from interviews indicated that tigers occurred in all 5 districts of the Province surveyed. Three key areas that contain tigers and suitable tiger habitat were identified, as were two regions where tigers apparently move back and forth across the Chinese border. Reports on prey numbers suggest that the moderate prey densities may be sufficient to support tiger populations. Future collaborative efforts are needed.

...

A recent report from China (Shihe et al. 1998) indicates that there are some regions in Jilin Province, China where tigers could possibly travel into North Korea, and reports from Russia (Pikunov et al. 1997, Aramilev et al. 1998) indicate that tigers are found very close to the border of North Korea. Thus, existent information along its borders indicate that there exists the potential for exchange of animals between North Korea and adjacent countries, but whether tigers occur in North Korea, and whether there exists suitable habitat and prey, is unknown.

...

Analysis of survey results
Based on results of all the surveyed districts it is possible to summarize tiger distribution and habitat, as well as their seasonal patterns of movement (migration) (Figure 4) for the Paektusan area. Of the 6000 km2 of the survey area, nearly 92% (5508 km2) is forest covered. Eight tiger tracks were found on eight separate survey routes in all five districts of the Province, and there were 24 reports of tigers based on interviews of local people (Table 2, Figure 3). Three regions are considered good habitat for tigers in the survey area:

1) The first of these high quality regions for tigers is in the area including the Photesan. Kuanmosan, Chanchonsan and Purunbon Mountains that represents the border zone between 4 of the districts (Samdzhien District, Tdekhondan District, Pkhekam District, and Pochen District) (Figure 4). The area coincides with the Paektusan International Wildlife Biosphere Conservation Park, is almost untouched by man’s activity, and has dense forests, rocky cliffs, fragmented cliffs and caves. High densities of ungulate populations, key prey for tigers, are typical for this area.

2) The second quality tiger habitat is the south part of the mountain range which includes the Kuesanbon, Koesanbon and Mantusan mountains in Pkhekam District (Figure 4). This area is the last part of the Khamken mountain range, which is one of the most important tiger habitats that serves as a link between the Paektusan area and the Chilbosan mountainous country and its reserve for tiger conservation.

3) The third area with suitable tiger habitat is the Nurynbon Amusan mountains in the Chenhanbon area, administratively situated within both Pochen and Unkhyn Districts. All these regions are situated in middle portions of river basins punctuated with high relief. Seasonal tiger movements are observed in Sampkhosan-Sobeksan and Teroynsan-Sambon areas (Figure 4). These movements occur along the frontier because ungulates seasonal migrate back and forth across the border. Tiger movements were also observed in the Tondgomlen area. This area is connected with the Puchonlen Mountain Range by means of a forested mountain range and further with the Ranlim Mountain Range and its Vagalbon Reserve for tiger protection.

Tigers of this region probably range widely. In the survey area tigers inhabit areas that range from 800 to 1600 m above sea level, seasonally migrating down in winter then up in the summer. In this elevation range coniferous-broadleaved and subtropical coniferous forests prevail. Prey of the Paektusan area also seasonally migrate. With deep snows in winter roe deer and wild boars inhabiting the Sobeksan, Photesan, Tekhondan, Khantubon and other mountains of Paektu Mountain Range migrate to the feet of these mountains or to their southern slopes. Tigers follow these seasonally migrating ungulates. Moose, deer and roe deer inhabiting the Kanbeksan, Sanpkhosan, Mudubon and Sinmusan mountains migrate to China in winter when the area is totally covered with deep snow, and come back with thawing of the snow in spring. Thus migrations of these ungulates lead to migrations of tigers.

4. CONCLUSIONS
Results of this research have elucidated the present distribution and status of the tiger and its preys in the Paektusan area. The survey verified the existence of tigers, and suitable tiger habitat in the area. In spite of the short and late field season (20 days in March), sufficient numbers of tiger tracks were found in the area to conclude that a large number of tigers inhabit this region. Survey results (along with already existing data on prey density) showed an abundance of prey resources for tigers in this area and extensive suitable habitat. Information from interviews suggest that reproduction is occurring. Existing information suggests that tigers move long distances in winter, when they travel into the Chinese frontier zones and make long passages into Sonkhasky Krai, returning in the spring to the Paektusan area."

Mount Paektu or Changbai (known in Korean as "Baekdu-San" (백두산), and in Chinese as "Zhǎngbái-Shān" (Simplified Chinese: 长白山, Traditional Chinese: 長白山), on the border of China and Korea, held in esteem by North Koreans especially, even Kim Jong-Un would visit the mountain and be pictured there: https://www.pyongyang-travel.com/north-k...r-17-days/, https://www.nst.com.my/world/2018/09/413...im-jong-un

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply