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

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PANTHERA TIGRIS ALTAICA - 4 - ON THE EFFECTS OF TOUGH CONDITIONS AND POACHERS (continuation)

4a - Poaching

The previous post in the series on Amur tigers had a report about poachers arrested in late January 2018 not too far from Chabarowsk. I wrote they had killed one Amur tiger. I was wrong.

In another article on the same incident, Russian officers concluded that four Amur tigers had been killed. They also found 870 paws of brown bears (...). In another region, 27 bear paws were discovered: 

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-china-bear-paws-tiger-endangered-animal-parts-smuggling/29004512.html

In the article, you'll find 'two minibuses and a SUV', 'crossing a frozen lake'  and 'other protected animals'. 

Imagine the scale of the operation. The organisation behind it. Poaching is big business.  

All in all, 6 Amur tigers and over 200 brown bears were lost in January, February and March of this year.

The Russian Far East is a large place. If they want to create a safe haven for wildlife in eastern Manchuria and the Russian Far East, the Chinese and the Russians need to take poaching serious and cooperate.

In order to fight local poachers, you need a decent budget, enough staff and an adequate legal framework. Professionals, however, have organisation. They're well-armed and dangerous. What is needed, therefore, is a professional response: rapid intervention teams, modern equipment and an attitude matching that of the opponent.

Over the top?

Losing many thousands of wild and often rare animals every year in a country headed by a man very interested in conservation is. The Russians are doing well, but it is important to understand that more Amur tigers will attract more professional poachers. In conservation, political will, research, education and an adequate legal framework are important. But so are gatekeepers. And the will to solve serious problems quickly. Based on the Fomenko-interview (see the previous post in this series), rangers in Russia face serious problems. If these are not solved and rangers lose motivation, tigers could disappear in less than a decade. 

For proof, visit southeast Asia. Empty forests. Reply