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

[Wolverine]

DEMOGRAPHICS OF RUSSIA AND ITS IMPACT ON FUTURE OF TIGERS

According to freshly published data birth rate in Russian Federation has decreased by robust 11% during last 2017:
http://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/30/1...0-year-low

Population of Russian Prymorsky region - the main stronghold of Amur tigers has already decreased by 13,3% for the period after colaps of Soviet Union (1990) until 2010 (from 2,258 million to 1,956 mill, see the yellow graphic in the bottom), and that of second stronghold of Siberian tigers - Khabarovsky region by 15,9% (from 1,597 million to 1,343 mill) for the period 1989-2010.
https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D1%...0%B0%D0%B9

That means that human presence in the domain of Amur tiger has decreased by 13,3-15,9% for the last 3 decades and that there are 13,3-15,9% LESS HUMANS IN THE TIGER'S AREAL. This situation is INIQUE for the planet for any big cat.
And process of depopulation is continuing. By the projects of demographs totall population of Russia is going to decrease by further 18,4% for next tree decades - from current 146 million to 119 mill in 2050. That means that in 2050 in the areal of Amur tiger are going to live with around 1/3 less people than during the late Soviet era. This are bad news for Russian economy but good news for the tigers.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF CHINA AND ITS IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF TIGERS

Population in China already increase with quite moddest 0,44% per year - same as in majority of Europe. I dont have detailed data for Chinese Inner Manchuria - former land of Amur tigers but have heard from specialists for China that people in that country tend to migrate in big quantities from internal arias to the economicaly developed coastal arias, from West to East and from North to South. So its quite possible that human pressure on Chinese Amur tigers is also decreasing.

CONCLUSIONS

Amur tiger is in UNIQUE situation among all big cats in the world. When human population in tropical Asia - land of the tropical tigers is still booming and population of Africa is literally exploding Amur tigers have an opportunity to live in arias where there is no more human pressure on them. I am quite optimistic about the future of Amur tiger. Reply