Scientists report gains in Siberian tiger recovery

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The Siberian or Amur tiger, a magnificent and dangerous predator found in Russia and China, has long been on the brink of extinction. In the 1930s, only about 30 Amur tigers remained in Russia due to hunting and habitat loss. Although protections introduced in the mid-1900s helped increase their numbers, poaching and declines in prey resurged after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

In 1992, the Siberian Tiger Project was launched, uniting Russian and American scientists who combined local expertise with modern tracking technologies to gather data that guided conservation measures and the creation of protected areas, according to CNN.

This more than 30-year effort is the subject of a recent book «Tigers Between Empires» by wildlife biologist Jonathan Slaght, who was inspired by the work and stories of veteran conservationist Dale Miquelle and the international team behind the project. The book documents the world’s longest-running tiger research initiative.

While noting significant achievements in tiger conservation, the book also cautions against the assumption that the crisis has passed. It has not, Slaght stressed.

«It’s a conservation success story, but constant vigilance is needed. These cats barely crawled back from the edge of extinction. It needs to be constantly monitored to make sure it doesn’t get out of control again,» CNN reported, citing the scientist.

Meanwhile, Kazakhstan plans to reintroduce tigers, stating that the Siberian tiger is the closest living relative of the extinct Turan tiger. The country has already brought in a pair of tigers from the Netherlands, and reports indicate they have successfully adapted to their new environment.