The Amur tiger is the largest tiger on the planet. He lives on Far East Russia, along the banks of the Amur and Ussuri, and in China. Hence the other names for this animal: Far Eastern or Ussurian tiger.
The Amur tiger is larger than its southern relatives. Its length including the tail can be more than 3 meters, and the height at the withers is more than a meter. The weight of an adult animal can reach 300 kg. Its fur is thicker and lighter than that of other tigers. The striped pattern on a tiger's skin is as unique as a person's fingerprint: you won't find two tigers with the same pattern.
This is the only tiger species that can survive in snowy winter. In winter, the skin of tigers lightens, becomes thick and fluffy. The tiger is not afraid of large snows - its wide paws help it walk on it.
Tigers are predators; they are almost constantly on the move. Walking around their territory, they look for prey. Tigers hunt mainly at night, on large ungulates: wapiti, wild boar, sika deer. To catch the prey, the tiger crawls towards it, arching its back and resting its hind paws on the ground. But only one out of ten attempts is successful in hunting. It is not able to eat the entire carcass of a large herbivore at once; the tiger hides it, and then returns again to finish eating.
The Amur tiger can not only hunt, but also fish - during spawning, it catches fish on the rifts of mountain rivers. Sometimes tigers eat grass to replenish vitamin deficiencies.
Tigers most often produce offspring in the spring. 2-3 tiger cubs are born, they are blind and toothless, like kittens. Up to two months, tiger cubs feed on milk, then the mother begins to feed them meat, and from six months they accompany their mother on the hunt and learn to hunt.
Lifespan Amur tiger V wildlife 16-18 years old, in captivity - up to 25 years old. The Amur tiger has practically no enemies in nature except humans. These are not aggressive animals, and they try to avoid people.
Due to human extermination and environmental deterioration, there are now fewer Amur tigers left in the wild than in zoos - a little more than 500 individuals in Russia and 40 in China.
The Amur tiger is included in the Red Book of Russia; hunting it is prohibited. In China, killing an Amur tiger carries the death penalty.
Questions about the report:
1. What does the Amur tiger look like?
2. Where does it live?
3. What does it eat?
4. How many Amur tigers are left in the wild?
The average weight of a tiger is 170 kg for males and 120 kg for females.
Today, there are two species of this cat family: the Amur and Bengal tigers. Bengal tigers, depending on their habitat, are divided into several subspecies: South China, Sumatran, Malayan and Indochinese. Their northern brother, the Amur tiger, lives in less comfortable climatic conditions, individual animals are “registered” in the Far East, Khabarovsk and Primorsky Territories.
This capricious and cautious predator is second only to the bear in its weight. Even the king of animals, the lion, is not able to compete with the tiger in this weight category. The height of the animal is three meters or more, excluding the length of the tail. There are individuals whose height approaches four meters. The tail of a predator is a source of special pride. With it he expresses his mood and warns the unwanted guest that the boundaries of the tiger's domain have been violated. With the help of this part of the body, males sort things out with each other; when climbing trees, the tail allows them to maintain balance, and also serves as a kind of sensor when moving in dark time days.
The average weight of a tiger is 170 kg for males and 120 kg for females.
The skin of each animal has its own special color. Tiger stripes, like human fingerprints, are unique. If representatives of the beautiful half of the tiger family decide to visit a beauty salon, then even after depilation, the skin of fashionistas will remain striped - the fur pattern is completely repeated on the skin of the animal. The royal status of the tiger is recognized in China - the stripes on the animal's forehead resemble the markings of a symbol of power.
Although the predator belongs to the cat family, in addition to weight and height, it has a number of distinctive features, compared to furry pets.
- Cats are nocturnal hunters; a tiger can go out to get food both at night and in the morning.
- A cat's eye has a unique structure - its pupil is elongated, while a tiger's pupil is round.
Therefore, whether the relationship between two representatives of these felines is consanguineous remains quite controversial.
This is interesting!
On these pages you can find out:
How much does a tank weigh?
How much does a bear weigh
How much does an ant weigh
How much does a cow weigh
How much does a banana weigh?
The tiger is a professional hunter. There are seasonal types of lying in wait for prey. In winter, the animal sneaks up on the victim from behind; in summer, it waits in ambush for its lunch or dinner. Knowing the tactics of tiger hunting, the inhabitants of India, going into the jungle, put a mask on the back of their heads; when faced with a potential victim face to face, the predator will most likely lose interest in it, since the effect of surprise disappears.
The speed of this graceful and strong animal can reach 60 km/h over a short distance, and its muscular legs allow it to jump up to 5 meters in height, which is comparable to the height of a double-decker bus.
The lifestyle of predators can be considered Spartan. They are capable of starving for up to several days, but in case of a successful hunt, the animal eats up to 30 kg of meat in one meal, which is equal to the amount of one hundred steaks. The main weapons of tigers are ten-centimeter fangs, which, like a sharp dagger, can sever the artery of a victim, and powerful paws, the impact of which even the strong bones of a bear’s skull cannot withstand.
How much does the Amur tiger weigh?
The Amur tiger is larger than its Asian counterparts and has adapted to life in harsh climatic conditions. The peculiarity of its habitat was reflected in the appearance of the animal: its fur is much thicker than that of a Bengal tiger, and its color is lighter. The only one of all representatives of large cats, the Amur tiger has a subcutaneous fat layer of about 5 cm on the abdominal wall; this anatomical feature allows the predator to survive in the winter.
The weight of an Amur tiger in the wild exceeds 200 kg.
The tiger is a predator; most often it does not leave its hunting grounds if there is enough food for a comfortable existence. But during the hungry year, cases of attacks on livestock were recorded. The peculiarity of the hunting habits of the Amur tiger is that it first knocks down a large prey to the ground and then gnaws it cervical vertebrae. In the event of a failed attack attempt, the predator most often leaves the prey and does not make repeated attempts. The remarkable strength of the animal allows it to drag a victim weighing up to 500 kg along the ground, which is almost three times its weight.
The Amur tiger is listed in the Red Book and is a rare, protected species. It’s a sad fact, but there are currently several times more tigers in captivity than in natural environment a habitat. In captivity, predator specimens are more modest in size compared to their wild counterparts. The weight of the Amur tiger in nature exceeds 200 kg, and the height at the withers is more than 115 cm. The reason for the decrease in the animal population is poaching and uncontrolled shooting of the animal. An important task, decided at the state level, is not only the preservation, but also the complete restoration of this unique species of majestic representative of wildlife.
Where does she live? big cat in the world? Every schoolchild knows this. The northernmost subspecies of the tiger lives in Primorye and some neighboring areas. One of the most formidable predators ever created by nature, the perfect killing machine. And at the same time, Ussuri tigers - the largest among their fellow tribesmen - are also the least aggressive towards humans. The king of the taiga, who was recently on the verge of extinction, respects people and perceives them as equals.
The Amur tiger (also known as the Ussuri tiger) is one of the largest land predators on our planet. The weight of a large Amur tiger can reach more than 300 kilograms. Some sources report tigers weighing up to 390 kg, although such large tigers are not found now. Body length is 160-290 cm, tail - 110 cm. The Amur tiger is an adornment of the Far Eastern taiga and an object of worship for many peoples of the Far East. This beautiful, exotically colored cat, unrivaled in strength and power in the entire world fauna, is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory, as well as on many heraldic symbols of cities and regions of the region. The history of the species indicates that the tiger is an easily vulnerable animal, despite its large size and enormous physical strength, and it is such that it can drag a horse carcass on the ground for more than 500 m, the tiger is capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h in the snow, second only to the cheetah in speed.
The fate of the Amur tiger is dramatic. IN mid-19th centuries it was numerous. IN late XIX V. Up to 100 animals were hunted annually. In the thirties of the last century, the tiger was occasionally found only in the most remote corners of the Ussuri taiga, difficult to reach by humans. The Amur tiger is on the verge of extinction due to unregulated shooting of adult individuals, intensive capture of tiger cubs, information forest areas in the vicinity of some rivers and a decrease in the number of wild artiodactyl animals caused by increased hunting pressure and other reasons; Winters with little snow also had an adverse effect. In 1935, a large and one of a kind Sikhote-Alin was organized in the Primorsky Territory state reserve. A little later - Lazovsky and Ussuri nature reserves. Since 1947, tiger hunting was strictly prohibited. Even the capture of tiger cubs for zoos was allowed only on occasion, with special permits. These measures turned out to be timely. Already in 1957, the number of Amur tigers almost doubled compared to the thirties, and by the early sixties it exceeded one hundred. The Amur tiger is protected by the state - it is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation; hunting and catching tigers is prohibited. Since 1998, the federal target program “Conservation of the Amur Tiger”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, has been implemented.
Of the eight subspecies ( Panthera tigris), traditionally distinguished on the basis of geographical distribution, three Balinese (P.t. balica), Javanese (P.t. sondaica) And Caspian (P.t.virgata) - are now extinct. Moreover, the extinct Caspian (Turanian) tiger is the closest relative of the Amur tiger with which in the not so distant past they had a continuous range. The territorial feature lies in the names of all currently existing tiger subspecies, identified by scientists on the basis of genetic analysis: northern Indochinese (P.t. corbetti), South Chinese(P.t. amoyensis), Malay (P.t. Amoyensi), Sumatran (P.t. sumatrae), Bengal (P.t. tigris), including Amur (P.t. altaica).
Habitat and range of Ussuri tigers
At the end of the 19th century. The area of permanent habitat of the Amur tiger extended to the left bank of the Amur. The northern border of the range stretches from the western foothills of the Lesser Khingan to the mouth of the river. Gorin. Further, descending to the south and going around the axial part of the northern, partly middle Sikhote-Alin, the border went out to the sea. Subsequently, the tiger's range began to shrink significantly, mainly in the north, and by 1940 its border shifted to the river basin. Iman. During these same years, the forest-meadow spaces of the Khanka Lowland and the outskirts of large cities disappeared from their range. Since the early 50s, as a result measures taken protection, the tiger's habitat began to expand noticeably.
The main habitat of the Amur tiger is the south of the Russian Far East. Now Russian tigers occupy almost the entire forest part of the habitats suitable for them in the Primorsky and southern parts of the Khabarovsk Territory. Along the western macroslope of the Sikhote-Alin mountain system, the northern border of its range extends to approximately 50°N, and along the eastern one - 48°30’. The total range of the Amur tiger covers an area of 156,500 km2, of which 123,000 km2. The tiger's range is divided into three foci: the main population lives in Sikhote-Alin; the remaining two outbreaks are located along the southwestern and northwestern borders with China. Moreover, at present, only in Sikhote-Alin is the only viable population of the Amur tiger preserved in the world.
The Amur tiger is an inhabitant of mountainous areas covered with broad-leaved and cedar-broad-leaved forests. Natural conditions The tiger's habitat in Sikhote-Alin is extremely harsh. In winter, the air temperature in certain periods drops to -400 C, and in summer it rises to + 35-370 C. In most habitats, the height of snow cover in the second half of winter is usually within 30-60 cm. The degree of adaptation of the predator to the complex environmental conditions typical for the northern limit of the species' distribution, it is quite high. Low winter temperatures do not affect the life activity of the tiger. He arranges temporary beds directly on the snow and can stay on them for several hours - this adaptability to frost is unique and characteristic only of the Amur subspecies of the tiger. For long-term rest, they prefer shelters - rocky ledges and niches, voids under fallen trees. When there is a lot of snow, moving around the area, tigers willingly use wild boar trails, logging roads, hunter trails, and snowmobile tracks. The tiger especially loves forests with slopes, steep and high cliffs, stone niches and caves. Here the predator always finds food, without difficulty high points survey their possessions, have plenty of convenient places for a den, and raise their striped offspring in solitude. The habitats of most tiger groups are located in the basins of the middle and lower reaches of mountain rivers at altitudes of 400-700 m above sea level. Entries of individual tigers into high mountain areas are rare and only during periods without snow or little snow.
Biology of tigers
The Amur tiger is the largest existing subspecies of tiger. On average, the length of its body with its head is 2 meters, and with its tail reaches 3 meters. An adult female Amur tiger weighs about 130 kg, and a male - 190 kg. However, males can reach 300-350 kg. The weight of a tiger cub at birth does not exceed 1 kg; at 3 months it is 10 kg. A six-month-old tiger cub weighs 30 kg, and only at 2.5 - 3 years old does its weight begin to exceed 100 kg. The Amur tiger has a paler color compared to other subspecies. The main color tone is reddish or buffy. Black or brown transverse stripes run across the entire body. In summer the color is brighter. In winter, the fur of the Amur tiger becomes long and thick. IN natural conditions tigers live on average ten to fifteen years, and in zoos longer. The Amur tiger has practically no enemies. Only a very large brown bear can overcome it.
Female Amur tigers reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years, males approximately a year later. As a rule, the breeding season occurs in the second half of winter, and the appearance of offspring mainly occurs in April-June. After mating, the male leaves the female and does not participate in raising the offspring. The tigress carries cubs for about 100-105 days. Under favorable conditions, females give birth to offspring at least once every two years, and in the event of the death of tiger cubs, in the year of their loss.
The mortality rate of young people is very high, about 50%. Cases of tigers dying from bears and cases of cannibalism are quite rare and do not significantly affect the well-being of the species. There are usually 1-4 tiger cubs in a litter, more often 2-3, less often 5-6. Tiger cubs are born blind. They feed on their mother’s milk for 1.5 to 2 months; they begin to eat meat at the age of two months, but they suck mother’s milk for up to six months. Baby tiger cubs are helpless, but they develop and grow quickly. At the age of two weeks they begin to see and hear, double their weight in a month, become nimble and inquisitive. They get out of the den and even try to climb trees. At this age, tiger cubs reach the weight of a large dog and switch entirely to meat from now on until the end of their days. The mother first brings them fresh food from her hunts, then leads them from one prey to another. Two-year-old tiger cubs weigh up to one hundred kilograms and begin to hunt on their own under the guidance of their mother. The tigress patiently and thoroughly strives to pass on to her heirs all her experience, all her worldly wisdom. She will let her children go independent life into a complex world fully formed and well prepared. The tigress has a lot of worries, and she copes with them alone. The tiger does not take any part in raising his children, although he often lives next to them. A tiger family breaks up when the young ones turn two years old. In the fourth year of life they become independent.
The female makes a den for her cubs in areas that are difficult to reach, and therefore in the most safe places: dense thickets, caves, rock crevices. Adult males, as a rule, do not have a permanent den and usually rest close to their prey. Young females leave their mother's territory at the age of 1.5 to 3 years, depending on whether the female has a new litter or not. Tigresses are more likely to stay close to their mother's territory than tigers. In the wild, a complete change of generations occurs in 15-20 years, if not in a shorter period.
Each tiger has its own individual habitat, which it walks around regularly. The area of such a site varies and depends on the number of ungulates. The smallest area (10-30 sq. km) is occupied by females with tiger cubs under the age of one year. On average, the range of an adult male is 600-800 km2, and the range of an adult female is 300-500 km2. The tiger is a polygamous animal; in the territory of one male there are usually areas of several females. At the border of the areas of adult tigers, young animals begin an independent life.
The daily movements of tigers are different and depend on whether the animal moves through its habitat, hunts successfully or unsuccessfully, searches for prey or eats it. Average diurnal cycle The distance of an adult male tiger is 9.6 km, the maximum is 41 km. For tigresses, the average movement per day is 7 km, the maximum is 22 km. Tigers are very conservative. They often use the same paths, return to their prey, and regularly appear in places where they met before. Both males and females mark bushes and trees in their territory with a mixture of urine and scent gland secretions. In addition, they leave claw marks on trees or excrement in visible places. The tigers' movement routes around the site are constant and are maintained by the animals from year to year. Tigers are solitary animals. They, unlike lions, do not recognize pack life and love solitude. Tigers are usually active in the evening, in the first half of the night and early in the morning. During the day, they prefer to lie somewhere on a rock or on the crest of a ridge for better review. The tiger is not afraid of heavy snow and severe frosts because of its thick fur and wide paws. In addition, in deep snow it is easier to approach the victim for a sure jump. However, heavy snowfall leads to the death of ungulates, which greatly undermines the tiger's food resources.
Most cats really don't like water. But this does not apply to tigers. The tiger loves water very much; it can lie in the water or near it for hours. Tigers swim well big rivers swim across without difficulty.
This predator has large, well-developed fangs (7.5 cm), using which it grabs, kills and dismembers the carcass. Tigers, like other representatives of the cat family, do not chew, but cut food into pieces with their molars and then swallow. Soft pads allow the tiger to sneak up silently, and the tiger’s paws have long claws reaching 10 cm for capturing prey.
The Amur tiger goes hunting during the day and at night. The main diet consists of wild boar and wapiti, and in the southwestern regions of Primorye and the Lazovsky Nature Reserve, sika deer. The tiger is a professional hunter. When hunting, he relies mainly on his visual acuity and keen hearing. The tiger, like all cats, has a weak sense of smell. Tigers hunt alone, using two main methods of hunting: hiding prey, or attacking from an ambush. The predator perfectly hears its prey, determines the direction of its movement and sets up an ambush either in front or conceals prey from the side. At the same time, he takes into account the direction of the wind so that it cannot be smelled. Predators lie in wait for ungulates on trails leading to watering holes, salt licks, and feeding grounds. The predator overtakes the pursued animal with several huge rapid jumps - this is the fastest way of running for a tiger. In a short-range throw, like lightning, he covers a distance of 15 meters in a second. But he can’t run for long: he gets tired. This is why the tiger always tries to sneak up as close as possible in order to finish the hunt with a few jumps. A victim overtaken by it rarely escapes.
A tiger eats quite a lot: up to 30 - 40 kilograms at a time. A hungry large animal can eat 50 kilograms of meat. Usually, a wapiti or a wild boar weighing one and a half centners lasts him for a week, and a large elk or bear - for 10 days. After a successful hunt and resting on plentiful food, the tiger does not always manage to immediately get another animal, and then he does not eat for several days in a row. The tiger endures even a long hunger strike without consequences for its body, because the layer of fat on its sides and belly reaches a thickness of five centimeters. For the prosperous existence of one tiger, about 400-500 wapiti, sika deer, roe deer and wild boars combined are needed. If there is a shortage of these animals in nature, tigers can attack livestock and dogs. But, unlike Indian tigers, specialized man-eaters are almost never found among Amur tigers. The probability of a tragic outcome in collisions between an Amur tiger and a human is hundredths of a percent.
Number and threats to the population
The number of tigers in the south of the Russian Far East in the past can only be judged by indirect data. So at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, 120-150 tigers were killed here annually. Intensive extermination of these predators, accompanied by a reduction in their habitats under the influence of human economic activity, led to the fact that already at the beginning of this century the number of tigers began to fall sharply. By the end of the 30s, the Amur tiger was on the verge of extinction - only no more than 50 individuals remained. The situation began to change for the better only after conservation measures were taken - a ban on hunting tigers (1947) and catching them (1956-60) with its subsequent restriction.
The maximum population density of these animals, according to the results of the latest censuses, was noted in the Sikhote-Alin, Lazovsky reserves and adjacent territories (up to 5-7 individuals per 1000 km2), as well as on the western macroslopes of the middle Sikhote-Alin, i.e. in areas least affected economic activity person. With minimal numbers, tigers inhabit the northern Sikhote-Alin, where the most difficult living conditions are characteristic of the northern limit of the species' range, as well as the southern developed and densely populated areas of the Primorsky Territory (1-2 individuals/1000 km2).
Main reasons for the decline in tiger numbers
Habitat degradation: massive logging and frequent forest fires are leading to increasing destruction of the Amur tiger's habitat. In the Russian Far East, a full-fledged tiger reserve with an area of about 30,000 hectares disappears every three years.
Depletion of food resources: currently there is a significant reduction in the number of wapiti, wild boar, roe deer, sika deer, which make up the food supply of the predator. The growing imbalance in the numbers of the predator and its main victims is one of the significant negative factors affecting the population size.
Fragmentation of the range: due to anthropogenic influence on the habitat, the tiger population is not a single whole, but dozens of small pockets isolated from each other. This leads to a decrease in genetic diversity.
The main limiting factor is poaching, which has become last years commercial in nature. Tiger products are sold in most countries of East Asia as valuable medicinal raw materials. Some models predict that if 5% of individuals are killed annually, the population will disappear within 50 years.
The Amur tiger is one of the rarest representatives of the world fauna. As an object of the first category of threat of extinction, it is included in the Red Books of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Russia, and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
In the Red Book Russian Federation The Amur tiger has category II as a rare, declining subspecies, which, with further exposure to unfavorable factors, may fall into the category of endangered.
Following the 2007 winter census, it was announced that the Amur tiger population had reached a century high and that the tiger was no longer on the verge of extinction. Now 90% of the total population of Amur tigers is concentrated in our country, and that is why Russia is responsible for the conservation of the Amur tiger on a global scale. Although there is currently no direct threat of extinction for the Amur tiger, its future continues to cause concern.
The number of Amur tigers in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories is 340-420 adults and about 100 cubs. As of February 20, 2007, 450 individuals were kept in zoos around the world (844 individuals as of January 1, 1979).
Since the typical habitat of the Amur tiger is mixed forests Manchurian type (cedar-broad-leaved), covering the slopes of mountains and hills, preserving coniferous-broad-leaved forests with all their inhabitants, we also preserve the Amur tiger, since it is impossible to save a species located at the top of the food pyramid without taking any measures to save its habitat and animals that make up its food supply. Tiger conservation activities also include organizing and facilitating the work of anti-poaching teams, creating and supporting protected areas, fighting forest fires and illegal logging, educational programs with the local population, border guards, children.
Compiled by: Ph.D. Petr Sharov and Olga Kuzminova, photo: Petr Sharov
RULES OF CONDUCT OF PEOPLE AND KEEPING OF PETS IN TIGER HABITAT IN THE TERRITORY OF PRIMORSKY TERRITORY
The Amur tiger, the largest cat on Earth, is preserved almost only in Russia in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories. The Amur tiger is protected by the state - it is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation; hunting and catching tigers is prohibited. Since 1998, the federal target program “Conservation of the Amur Tiger”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, has been implemented. The Amur tiger is a decoration of the Far Eastern taiga and the pride of Russians. At the same time, the Amur tiger is strong and dangerous predator, its proximity requires caution and certain rules behavior. It must be remembered that in the vast majority of cases, conflict situations are created by man himself, often due to ignorance or non-compliance with the rules of behavior in the places where the tiger lives. The tiger is one of the most perfect predators on earth. He approaches his victim unnoticed and kills him after a lightning throw. Therefore, if a tiger comes into your field of vision, then most likely it is not going to attack you, and correct behavior will help avoid conflict. Composure and self-control are the main components of human behavior when meeting a tiger. The purpose of these Rules is to ensure the safety of people in the forest, to minimize the likelihood of conflict situations, which will significantly increase the possibility of “peaceful coexistence” between tigers and people. SITUATIONS IN WHICH TIGER ENCOUNTERS MOST OCCUR
1. Tigress with kittens. A serious danger arises when a person suddenly appears at a den with newborns. As a rule, the animal emits a warning roar. In this case, you should turn back without panic and go around dangerous place side no less than half a kilometer away. The critical distance that prompts the female to attack is about 100 m. When meeting tiger cubs in the absence of the female, it is strictly forbidden to catch them. The female can leave her offspring unattended for a long time, and maturing kittens often take independent walks. Due to a lack of experience, tiger cubs are not careful, and this is the reason for their encounters with people, especially on roads, which the animals readily use. But even a small tiger cub is able to fend for itself and can inflict fatal wounds. In addition, there may be a female nearby, whose behavior in such a situation is unpredictable. The animal can rush to defense, not paying attention to people and vehicles. If you repeatedly encounter tiger cubs on the roads, you must report this to State Committee on protection environment Primorsky Territory or Paradise (Mountains) Committees for Environmental Protection.
2. Tiger and dog. Tiger has an inexplicable affinity for domestic dogs. He can accompany a person and a dog for hours and neither the owner nor the dog detects the presence of the animal. The tiger chooses the moment when the dog moves away from the owner. She usually disappears without a trace and silently - the tiger kills her instantly. Often, tracking a dog lasts for several days; the tiger accompanies a person to his forest home. In this case, not only the dog is doomed, but the person is also in serious danger. Sometimes the tiger's first jump on the dog is unsuccessful and the dog rushes to the protection of its owner. An excited predator is no longer able to stop; he, as a rule, does not pay attention to the person and the tragedy occurs literally under the feet of the owner. A tiger that takes a dog usually leaves a person alone. Under no circumstances should you follow his trail - the dog cannot be helped, but you can provoke the predator to protect the prey. Sometimes the dog manages to detect the pursuer: it becomes lethargic, huddles at the owner’s feet, whines, and flinches at every rustle. In such a situation, it is recommended to fire several shots into the air, fire a flare, and if there is no weapon, knock on the pot, the trunk of a tree and noisily leave the dangerous place without panicking.
3. Tiger near the prey. If the prey belongs to a hunter, then, having discovered tiger tracks, you need to announce your presence with noise characteristic of a person - a gunshot, the sound of metal, loud conversation, knocking on trees. Under normal conditions, a tiger does not touch an animal hunted by a hunter. Moreover, a normal, healthy predator abandons its prey when it discovers traces of a person next to it. Warned by the noise, the animal will leave, but if it suddenly appears, the animal may rush towards the person. You should not approach a tiger's prey. Excessive curiosity can lead to tragic consequences for another reason: a bear, which at such moments is extremely aggressive, can eat the remains of the prey. The situation is dangerous when a tiger and a hunter steal the same prey. A predator in a state of excitement is capable of rushing at a competitor, but is usually limited to a warning roar after the deer or wild boar have discovered their pursuers and left. Sometimes he makes demonstrative throws towards the hunter, provoking a shot, and here the hunter is required to show composure.
4. Injured or hungry tiger. An injured tiger loses the ability to hunt successfully. But not only injured or old animals can go hungry. In nature, conditions are often unfavorable for tigers to hunt. The feeling of hunger prompts him to go out to populated areas, visit garbage dumps, eat carrion, and attack livestock and dogs. Unusual behavior of the animal becomes noticeable and should be immediately reported to environmental organizations. The appearance of such a predator poses a serious threat; being near it in the area is possible only in cases of extreme necessity and for experienced and well-armed people. Blood on tracks or tracks, an unusually small step are the first signs that should alert you. In such cases, it is not recommended to travel alone, and you must have protective equipment with you. The best option– leave the dangerous territory until the situation is clarified. The sharp decline in the number of ungulates also increases the risk of tiger attacks. Such phenomena must be monitored by bodies specially authorized for this purpose, promptly warn the local population and limit visiting the sites alone. Short-term (up to half a month) unfavourable conditions do not cause negative changes in the tiger’s behavior - it eats up the remains of past meals and is content with random prey.
5. Tiger in a trap. In recent years, poachers have been using snares and leg traps to catch tigers. An animal caught in them can pose a mortal danger to an approaching person. Then he hides and briefly makes a desperate jerk towards the “offender”. If the cable breaks, then the rescue of the curious person is unlikely. As a rule, people who are not involved in poaching suffer. Freed from the trap, the injured beast becomes extremely dangerous.
6. Tiger on the road. A tiger may appear on the road while crossing or out of curiosity. It does not pose a danger to motorists if you do not stop and get out of the car. Motorcyclists should not approach the animal at a dangerous distance. You need to quickly decide on the spot: continue at speed or turn around. The cyclist needs to dismount and leave the meeting place without fuss, without turning his back to the tiger, talking loudly to him.
7. Threatening behavior of a tiger. The appearance of a tiger in sight serves as a warning. Usually the animal behaves secretly. He studies people by smells, sounds, looks from hiding, receiving all the necessary information about us. Deviation from this norm of behavior should raise alarm bells - the animal is potentially dangerous, and precautions must be taken. By its appearance, a tiger can warn of nearby cubs or prey. But there may be another reason - the beast regards a person as an undesirable competitor. The demonstrative appearance of a tiger means that he is not going to hunt a person, but warns who is the boss here. Therefore, you should leave the dangerous area and under no circumstances shoot at the tiger. Demonstrative behavior also includes the roar of a tiger, which it emits while moving parallel to a person. This is most often observed at night. There is no direct threat of attack, but a powerful roar causes severe stress. Such predators should be deterred by affirming human strength and leadership. To do this, you need to shout, make noise, shoot up and, without fuss or panic, and under no circumstances running away, leave the dangerous place.
BEHAVIOR OF A TIGER WHEN ATTACKING
In a face-to-face meeting that is unexpected for both sides, even an exhausted animal does not immediately make a decision. In such a situation, a person has time to assess the situation. More often, the tiger freezes for a while, tenses up, emits a threatening roar, and may make a false charge. If the animal is tense, the ears are tightly pressed, the hair on the head and nape is raised, the tail is nervously wriggling - the situation is extremely dangerous and you need to act immediately. In cases where the animal is pursuing or when it has nowhere to retreat, the tiger is forced to defend itself and may attack. It usually knocks a person down, can bite a hand if the victim resists, and usually walks away. A tiger rarely sees a person as prey, so an attempt to attack should not be confused with a demonstration of it. False throws towards a person are of a warning nature and, paradoxically, most tragedies happen to people who have weapons in their hands. A hasty shot at an animal can only provoke it to attack, especially if it is wounded.
PREVENTION OF ATTACKS
1. Before visiting an area where tigers live, it is necessary to collect information about the behavior of tigers. If there are cases of dogs disappearing, attacks on livestock, or visual sightings of a tiger are frequent, it is better to abandon your intention, or take all necessary precautions.
2. In the vast majority of cases, tiger attacks on humans and domestic animals are provoked by a lack of food resources. Therefore, in each tiger habitat, the issue of opening hunts for ungulates can only be resolved if there is a scientifically proven number of animals that are prey for the tiger. General shooting of ungulates different types should not exceed 50-70% of the removal rate established without “adjustment” for the tiger.
3. It is necessary to monitor the sanitary condition of the surroundings of populated areas, camps, bases, hunting huts, etc., to prevent garbage dumps and garbage dumps that attract predators. It is strictly forbidden to scatter the carcasses of skinned fur-bearing animals near hunting huts.
4. The use of hunting dogs in tiger habitats is highly undesirable. Dogs not only inevitably die themselves, but also attract the tiger to humans. The tiger rarely approaches huts where there are no dogs. It is prohibited to keep dogs loose near hunting huts, in apiaries, dachas, summer camps livestock
5. It is prohibited to approach a tiger’s prey, even if there are no fresh tracks, much less take it away.
6. Tourists, mushroom and berry pickers are recommended to walk in groups of at least three people in tiger habitats. When you encounter tiger tracks, you should create noise - talk loudly, call to each other. The metallic sound of a pot or bucket scares away a predator.
7. The use of horses is undesirable. If they are present, they should not be left unattended. Often horses attract not only a tiger, but also a bear to their campsite.
8. Expedition employees must have tiger-repellent protective equipment. Light and sound flares are the most effective. False flares, gas pistols, and spray cans with a repellent composition are also recommended. They should always be at hand and ready for instant use.
10. When you encounter fresh tracks of a tiger, you need to take precautions and be extremely careful. Hiding, sneaking a step can mislead the predator and arouse unnecessary interest in him. Conversely, a noise characteristic of a person will warn him.
11. If you cannot avoid a meeting with a tiger, it is recommended:
Try to drive him away with noise: knocking on metal, trees, shooting in the air, launching signal flares, and at a short distance - with a flare. Large predators are well versed in the intonation of the sounds produced, and a hysterical human cry with notes of animal fear (as dying victims scream) will not frighten a tiger, so you should speak calmly and confidently;
If the tiger is excited, makes attempts to approach or leaves, but returns, this is a warning of serious danger, and, if space and time permit, it is recommended to climb a tree. However, you should only climb a tree if you are sure that you can do it (there have been cases when a tiger pulled down a person climbing a tree). The tiger can go on a long siege, but this is not worst way out. If possible, you can try to drive away the beast with a lit rag or other available means.
If suitable trees no, but the predator is approaching, you should not lose your composure, panic in this case is a bad ally. Repeated investigations similar situations show that if the person himself does not “turn on” the predator with fuss and hysteria, retreats without sudden movements, backing away and without showing the back of his head, while calmly explaining to the animal the “dishonesty” of his actions - the predator, after a short accompaniment, leaves the person alone. As you retreat, it is useful to leave a backpack, hat, jacket or other equipment - this distracts the animal and relieves its excitement. Under no circumstances should you run away and turn your back on the tiger!
DEFENSE TECHNIQUES WHEN ATTACKED
If the attack is provoked and the tiger does not intend to devour the downed person, the conflict usually ends with varying degrees of injury. Recommend best option protection that guarantees complete preservation of health is not possible. But life can be saved even in the most critical situations.
1. A tiger attacking at high speed with all signs of aggression can only be stopped by a lethal shot. You need to hit it in the forehead, in the mouth, or in the neck while jumping in order to immobilize the animal with the first bullet. Therefore, you should shoot short - no further than 10 m, but in this case there is no time left for the second shot. Under no circumstances should you chase a wounded tiger. As experience shows, by chasing a wounded tiger, especially alone, you are almost one hundred percent guaranteeing lifelong disability or instant death. When deciding to use weapons, you should remember that the tiger is protected by law, and only a proven need for self-defense will allow you to avoid punishment for the destruction of a rare animal in the future.
2. If a tiger knocks a person down and does not kill him in the first moment, there is a chance to remain alive. It is recommended to lie down and take no action. Resistance with bare hands useless - it will only lead to unnecessary injuries. Usually in such a situation those who survived were those who lay motionless, hysterical screams and fuss. The excited animal gradually calms down and leaves the victim alone.
3. If the predator continues to torment the person, a pistol shot or a knife attack is possible. The bullet must hit the spine or head to paralyze the animal. From a gas pistol you need to shoot at the open mouth or eyes. A blow with a knife can be effective if the length of its blade is at least 18-20 cm, and it should be struck under the shoulder blade or in the sternum area. The end of the blade should be slightly rounded so that it can slide into the intercostal space and not get stuck in the bone.
1. Free grazing of livestock is unacceptable. Grazing should take place only during daylight hours and only accompanied by a shepherd, who should have means personal protection and repelling predators. At night, livestock should take shelter in secure yards.
2. Farms and pigsties located in forest villages or on the outskirts of villages must be fenced with a net or fence of at least 2.5 m. The fence must reliably protect animals from the penetration of a tiger or bear. Special attention should be given to summer livestock camps - they should be securely fenced and guarded at night. It is extremely advisable to use methods to scare tigers away.
3. All corpses of dead animals must be disposed of by burning.
5. At hunting huts, in summer livestock camps, in apiaries, dachas and other similar places, domestic dogs are mandatory must be on a leash. At the same time, dogs must be protected from possible tiger attacks. For this purpose, shelters should be made for dogs, for example, narrow openings under a house, barn, etc., which will be inaccessible to the tiger.
6. While in the area outside the hunting season, as well as in the absence of a license or permit, the hunter must keep the dog on a leash.
METHODS OF REPELLING TIGERS
Tigers are afraid of noise and sound effects. Therefore, when meeting a tiger, you should make as much noise as possible. It must be remembered that an upward shot will scare off the animal faster than a shot to kill, after which the wounded animal becomes mortally dangerous. The most effective and accessible method of scaring is the use of signal pyrotechnics. These include signal light and sound flares, as well as flares, the acquisition of which does not require special permits. The rocket should not be launched straight up, but over the tiger. For greater efficiency, it is better to use several missiles at the same time. When working with missiles, it is necessary to observe safety measures, including fire safety measures. After the missile is launched and the tiger leaves, you should make sure that no fire occurs at the site where the missile hit. To scare tigers away from homes and farms, it is recommended to light fires around them at night, burn car tires, launch signal flares. The launch is especially effective if the rocket is tied above a hollow metal container in such a way that its rear end is half lowered into this container. The rocket cover is unscrewed and a rope is tied to the trigger cord ring, which is pulled into the shelter where the person is located. The noise from the launch of such a missile will scare away the tiger for a long time.
All cases of attacks on humans and livestock should be immediately reported to environmental authorities, who are required to warn the local population and conduct an investigation. If it is determined that the tiger posed a danger, it is subject to seizure, which is carried out by authorized specialists with the permission of the State Committee for Ecology of Russia.
You should always remember that when meeting a tiger, you MUST NOT: panic and fuss, run away, turn your back to the tiger, shoot at the tiger.
Authors: Yu.M. Dunishenko (FEB All-Russian Research Institute of Hunting and Fur Farming), Ph.D. Yu.N. Smirnov (Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve), G. Salkina (Lazovsky Nature Reserve), I. G. Nikolaev, Ph.D. V.G. Yudin (Institute of Biology and Soil Sciences, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences) Editor – Ph.D. G.V. Kolonin (State Committee of the Russian Federation for Environmental Protection) Reviewer – Ph.D. V.V. Gaponov (Administration of the Primorsky Territory), photo: P. O. Sharova
Where does the biggest cat in the world live? The northernmost subspecies of the tiger lives in Russian Primorye and some neighboring areas. One of the most formidable predators ever created by nature, the perfect killing machine. And at the same time, Ussuri tigers are the largest among their fellow tribesmen and at the same time the least aggressive towards humans. The king of the taiga, who was recently on the verge of extinction, respects people and perceives them as equals.
The Amur tiger (also known as the Ussuri tiger) is one of the largest land predators on our planet. The weight of a large Amur tiger can reach more than 300 kilograms. Some sources report tigers weighing up to 390 kg, although such large tigers are not found now. Body length is 160-290 cm, tail - 110 cm. The Amur tiger is an adornment of the Far Eastern taiga and an object of worship for many peoples of the Far East. This beautiful, exotically colored cat, unrivaled in strength and power in the entire world fauna, is depicted on the flag and coat of arms of the Primorsky Territory, as well as on many heraldic symbols of cities and regions of the region. The history of the species indicates that the tiger is an easily vulnerable animal, despite its large size and enormous physical strength, and it is such that it can drag a horse carcass on the ground for more than 500 m, the tiger is capable of reaching speeds of up to 80 km/h in the snow, second only to the cheetah in speed.
The fate of the Amur tiger is dramatic. In the middle of the 19th century it was numerous. At the end of the 19th century. Up to 100 animals were hunted annually. In the thirties of the last century, the tiger was occasionally found only in the most remote corners of the Ussuri taiga, difficult to reach by humans. The Amur tiger is on the verge of extinction due to unregulated shooting of adult individuals, intensive capture of tiger cubs, clearing of forests in the vicinity of some rivers and a decrease in the number of wild artiodactyl animals caused by increased hunting pressure and other reasons; Winters with little snow also had an adverse effect. In 1935, a large and one-of-a-kind Sikhote-Alin State Nature Reserve was organized in the Primorsky Territory. Somewhat later - Lazovsky and Ussuriysky nature reserves. Since 1947, tiger hunting was strictly prohibited. Even the capture of tiger cubs for zoos was allowed only on occasion, with special permits. These measures turned out to be timely. Already in 1957, the number of Amur tigers almost doubled compared to the thirties, and by the early sixties it exceeded one hundred. The Amur tiger is protected by the state - it is listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation; hunting and catching tigers is prohibited. Since 1998, the federal target program “Conservation of the Amur Tiger”, approved by the Government of the Russian Federation, has been implemented.
Of the eight subspecies of the tiger (Panthera tigris), traditionally distinguished on the basis of geographical distribution, three - Balinese (P.t. balica), Javan (P.t. sondaica) and Caspian (P.t. virgata) - are currently extinct. Moreover, the extinct Caspian (Turanian) tiger is the closest relative of the Amur tiger with which in the not so distant past they had a continuous range.
The territorial feature lies in the names of all currently existing tiger subspecies, identified by scientists on the basis of genetic analysis: northern Indochinese (P.t. corbetti), South Chinese(P.t. amoyensis), Malay (P.t. Amoyensi), Sumatran (P.t. sumatrae), Bengal (P.t. tigris), including Amur (P.t. altaica).
Habitat and range of Ussuri tigers
At the end of the 19th century. The area of permanent habitat of the Amur tiger extended to the left bank of the Amur. The northern border of the range stretches from the western foothills of the Lesser Khingan to the mouth of the river. Gorin. Further, descending to the south and going around the axial part of the northern, partly middle Sikhote-Alin, the border went out to the sea. Subsequently, the tiger's range began to shrink significantly, mainly in the north, and by 1940 its border shifted to the river basin. Iman. During these same years, the forest-meadow spaces of the Khanka Lowland and the outskirts of large cities disappeared from their range. Since the early 50s, as a result of conservation measures taken, the tiger's habitat area began to expand noticeably.
The main habitat of the Amur tiger is the south of the Russian Far East. Now Russian tigers occupy almost the entire forest part of the habitats suitable for them in the Primorsky and southern parts of the Khabarovsk Territory. Along the western macroslope of the Sikhote-Alin mountain system, the northern border of its range extends to approximately 50°N, and along the eastern one - 48°30’. The total range of the Amur tiger covers an area of 156,500 km2, of which 123,000 km2. The tiger's range is divided into three foci: the main population lives in Sikhote-Alin; the remaining two outbreaks are located along the southwestern and northwestern borders with China. Moreover, at present, only in Sikhote-Alin is the only viable population of the Amur tiger preserved in the world.
The Amur tiger is an inhabitant of mountainous areas covered with broad-leaved and cedar-broad-leaved forests. The natural conditions of tiger habitats in Sikhote-Alin are extremely harsh. In winter, the air temperature in certain periods drops to -400 C, and in summer it rises to + 35-370 C. In most habitats, the height of snow cover in the second half of winter is usually within 30-60 cm. The degree of adaptation of the predator to the complex environmental conditions typical for the northern limit of the species' distribution, it is quite high. Low winter temperatures do not affect the life of a tiger. He arranges temporary beds directly on the snow and can stay on them for several hours - this adaptability to frost is unique and characteristic only of the Amur subspecies of the tiger. For long-term rest, they prefer shelters - rocky ledges and niches, voids under fallen trees. When there is a lot of snow, moving around the area, tigers willingly use wild boar trails, logging roads, hunter trails, and snowmobile tracks. The tiger especially loves forests with slopes, steep and high cliffs, stone niches and caves. Here the predator always finds food, easily surveys its possessions from high points, has plenty of convenient places for a den, and raises its striped offspring in solitude. The habitats of most tiger groups are located in the basins of the middle and lower reaches of mountain rivers at altitudes of 400-700 m above sea level. Entries of individual tigers into high mountain areas are rare and only during periods without snow or little snow.
Biology of tigers
The Amur tiger is the largest existing subspecies of tiger. On average, the length of its body with its head is 2 meters, and with its tail reaches 3 meters. An adult female Amur tiger weighs about 130 kg, and a male - 190 kg. However, males can reach 300-350 kg. The weight of a tiger cub at birth does not exceed 1 kg; at 3 months it is 10 kg. A six-month-old tiger cub weighs 30 kg, and only at 2.5 - 3 years old does its weight begin to exceed 100 kg. The Amur tiger has a paler color compared to other subspecies. The main color tone is reddish or buffy. Black or brown transverse stripes run across the entire body. In summer the color is brighter. In winter, the fur of the Amur tiger becomes long and thick. In natural conditions, tigers live on average ten to fifteen years, and in zoos longer. The Amur tiger has practically no enemies. Only a very large brown bear can overcome it.
Female Amur tigers reach sexual maturity at the age of 3 years, males approximately a year later. As a rule, the breeding season occurs in the second half of winter, and the appearance of offspring mainly occurs in April-June. After mating, the male leaves the female and does not participate in raising the offspring. The tigress carries cubs for about 100-105 days. Under favorable conditions, females give birth to offspring at least once every two years, and in the event of the death of tiger cubs, in the year of their loss.
The mortality rate of young people is very high, about 50%. Cases of tigers dying from bears and cases of cannibalism are quite rare and do not significantly affect the well-being of the species. There are usually 1-4 tiger cubs in a litter, more often 2-3, less often 5-6. Tiger cubs are born blind. They feed on their mother’s milk for 1.5 to 2 months; they begin to eat meat at the age of two months, but they suck mother’s milk for up to six months. Baby tiger cubs are helpless, but they develop and grow quickly. At the age of two weeks they begin to see and hear, double their weight in a month, become nimble and inquisitive. They get out of the den and even try to climb trees. At this age, tiger cubs reach weight big dog and switch entirely to meat from now on until the end of their days. The mother first brings them fresh food from her hunts, then leads them from one prey to another. Two-year-old tiger cubs weigh up to one hundred kilograms and begin to hunt on their own under the guidance of their mother.
The tigress patiently and thoroughly strives to pass on to her heirs all her experience, all her worldly wisdom. She will release her children to live independently in a complex world fully formed and well prepared. The tigress has a lot of worries, and she copes with them alone. The tiger does not take any part in raising his children, although he often lives next to them. A tiger family breaks up when the young ones turn two years old. In the fourth year of life they become independent.
The female makes a den for her cubs in hard-to-reach, and therefore safest places: dense thickets, caves, rock crevices. Adult males, as a rule, do not have a permanent den and usually rest close to their prey. Young females leave their mother's territory at the age of 1.5 to 3 years, depending on whether the female has a new litter or not. Tigresses are more likely to stay close to their mother's territory than tigers. In the wild, a complete change of generations occurs in 15-20 years, if not in a shorter period.
Each tiger has its own individual habitat, which it walks around regularly. The area of such a site varies and depends on the number of ungulates. The smallest area (10-30 sq. km) is occupied by females with tiger cubs under the age of one year. On average, the range of an adult male is 600-800 km2, and the range of an adult female is 300-500 km2. The tiger is a polygamous animal; in the territory of one male there are usually areas of several females. At the border of the areas of adult tigers, young animals begin an independent life.
The daily movements of tigers are different and depend on whether the animal moves through its habitat, hunts successfully or unsuccessfully, searches for prey or eats it. The average daily movement of an adult male tiger is 9.6 km, the maximum is 41 km. For tigresses, the average movement per day is 7 km, the maximum is 22 km. Tigers are very conservative. They often use the same paths, return to their prey, and regularly appear in places where they met before. Both males and females mark bushes and trees in their territory with a mixture of urine and scent gland secretions. In addition, they leave claw marks on trees or excrement in visible places. The tigers' movement routes around the site are constant and are maintained by the animals from year to year. Tigers are solitary animals. They, unlike lions, do not recognize pack life and love solitude. Tigers are usually active in the evening, in the first half of the night and early in the morning. During the day, they prefer to lie somewhere on a rock or on the crest of a ridge for a better view. The tiger is not afraid of heavy snow and severe frosts because of its thick fur and wide paws. In addition, in deep snow it is easier to approach the victim for a sure jump. However, heavy snowfall leads to the death of ungulates, which greatly undermines the tiger's food resources.
Most cats really don't like water. But this does not apply to tigers. The tiger loves water very much and can lie in or near the water for hours. Tigers swim well and cross large rivers without difficulty.
This predator has large, well-developed fangs (7.5 cm), using which it grabs, kills and dismembers the carcass. Tigers, like other representatives of the cat family, do not chew, but cut food into pieces with their molars and then swallow. Soft pads allow the tiger to sneak up silently, and the tiger’s paws have long claws reaching 10 cm for capturing prey.
The Amur tiger goes hunting during the day and at night. The main diet consists of wild boar and wapiti, and in the southwestern regions of Primorye and the Lazovsky Nature Reserve, sika deer. The tiger is a professional hunter. When hunting, he relies mainly on his visual acuity and keen hearing. The tiger, like all cats, has a weak sense of smell. Tigers hunt alone, using two main methods of hunting: hiding prey, or attacking from an ambush. The predator perfectly hears its prey, determines the direction of its movement and sets up an ambush either in front or conceals prey from the side. At the same time, he takes into account the direction of the wind so that it cannot be smelled. Predators lie in wait for ungulates on trails leading to watering holes, salt licks, and feeding grounds. The predator overtakes the pursued animal with several huge rapid jumps - this is the fastest way of running for a tiger. In a short-range throw, like lightning, he covers a distance of 15 meters in a second. But he can’t run for long: he gets tired. This is why the tiger always tries to sneak up as close as possible in order to finish the hunt with a few jumps. A victim overtaken by it rarely escapes.
A tiger eats quite a lot: up to 30 - 40 kilograms at a time. A hungry large animal can eat 50 kilograms of meat. Usually, a wapiti or a wild boar weighing one and a half centners lasts him for a week, and a large elk or bear - for 10 days.
After a successful hunt and resting on plentiful food, the tiger does not always manage to immediately get another animal, and then he does not eat for several days in a row. The tiger endures even a long hunger strike without consequences for its body, because the layer of fat on its sides and belly reaches a thickness of five centimeters. For the prosperous existence of one tiger, about 400-500 wapiti, sika deer, roe deer and wild boars combined are needed. If there is a shortage of these animals in nature, tigers can attack livestock and dogs. But, unlike Indian tigers, specialized man-eaters are almost never found among Amur tigers. The probability of a tragic outcome in collisions between an Amur tiger and a human is hundredths of a percent.
Number and threats to the population
The number of tigers in the south of the Russian Far East in the past can only be judged by indirect data. So at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries, 120-150 tigers were killed here annually. Intensive extermination of these predators, accompanied by a reduction in their habitats under the influence of human economic activity, led to the fact that already at the beginning of this century the number of tigers began to fall sharply. By the end of the 30s, the Amur tiger was on the verge of extinction - only no more than 50 individuals remained. The situation began to change for the better only after conservation measures were taken - a ban on hunting tigers (1947) and catching them (1956-60) with its subsequent restriction.
The maximum population density of these animals, according to the results of the latest censuses, was noted in the Sikhote-Alin, Lazovsky reserves and adjacent territories (up to 5-7 individuals per 1000 km2), as well as on the western macroslopes of the middle Sikhote-Alin, i.e. in areas least affected by human economic activity. With minimal numbers, tigers inhabit the northern Sikhote-Alin, where the most difficult living conditions are characteristic of the northern limit of the species' range, as well as the southern developed and densely populated areas of the Primorsky Territory (1-2 individuals/1000 km2).
Main reasons for the decline in tiger numbers
Habitat degradation: massive logging and frequent forest fires are leading to increasing destruction of the Amur tiger's habitat. In the Russian Far East, a full-fledged tiger reserve with an area of about 30,000 hectares disappears every three years.
Depletion of food resources: currently there is a significant reduction in the number of wapiti, wild boar, roe deer, sika deer, which make up the food supply of the predator. The growing imbalance in the numbers of the predator and its main victims is one of the significant negative factors affecting the population size.
Fragmentation of the range: due to anthropogenic influence on the habitat, the tiger population is not a single whole, but dozens of small pockets isolated from each other. This leads to a decrease in genetic diversity.
The main limiting factor is poaching, which has become commercial in recent years. Tiger products are sold in most countries East Asia as a valuable medicinal raw material. Some models predict that if 5% of individuals are killed annually, the population will disappear within 50 years.
The Amur tiger is one of the rarest representatives of the world fauna. As an object of the first category of threat of extinction, it is included in the Red Books of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Russia, and is included in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
In the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the Amur tiger has category II as a rare, declining subspecies, which, with further exposure to unfavorable factors, may fall into the category of endangered.
Following the 2007 winter census, it was announced that the Amur tiger population had reached a century high and that the tiger was no longer on the verge of extinction. Now 90% of the total population of Amur tigers is concentrated in our country, and that is why Russia is responsible for the conservation of the Amur tiger on a global scale. Although there is currently no direct threat of extinction for the Amur tiger, its future continues to cause concern.
The number of Amur tigers in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories is 340-420 adults and about 100 cubs. As of February 20, 2007, 450 individuals were kept in zoos around the world (844 individuals as of January 1, 1979).
Since the typical ecosystem habitat of the Amur tiger is mixed forests of the Manchurian type (cedar-broad-leaved), covering the slopes of mountains and hills, preserving coniferous-broad-leaved forests with all their inhabitants, we also preserve the Amur tiger, since it is impossible to save the species at the top of the food pyramid , without taking any measures to save its habitat and the animals that make up its food supply. Tiger protection activities also include organizing and facilitating the work of anti-poaching teams, creating and supporting protected areas, fighting forest fires and illegal logging, and educational programs with the local population, border guards, and children.
