tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56389755325702666142024-03-12T21:52:05.179-07:00Siberian (Amur) TigerBlog dedicated to the world largest cat spacey. Here you'll learn everything you ever wanted to know about Siberian tigers.Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-83524436925875125382013-07-13T04:37:00.003-07:002013-07-13T04:37:45.602-07:00Nature - Siberian Tiger Quest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Chris Morgan has tracked large predators in some of the wildest and most
remote places on Earth. He now embarks on his greatest challenge - to
find and film the Siberian tiger living wild and free in Russia's far
eastern forests. This film features the work of Korean cameraman,
Sooyong Park, who spent two years in the forest tracking and filming the
world's biggest cat. Park's tracking technique was very unconventional.
He dug himself into an underground pit and, incredibly, waited there
for weeks at a time, hoping for a glimpse of a wild tiger. Morgan adopts
the same method while he shares with us firsthand the difficulty of
seeing the rare Siberian tiger.</div>
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Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-27046218771410102052013-06-30T06:36:00.003-07:002013-06-30T06:36:24.257-07:00There are only 300 Siberian tigers left in the wild <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B58HcVmdSAQ/UdA0GlIhp7I/AAAAAAAACCE/YeJ5Wchppvc/s369/siberian+tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B58HcVmdSAQ/UdA0GlIhp7I/AAAAAAAACCE/YeJ5Wchppvc/s369/siberian+tiger.jpg" height="320" width="265" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Liz Bonnin took her life in her hands
every time she ventured outside while filming her new two-part BBC2
series, Operation Snow Tiger. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">In
temperatures of -38˚C and with wild tigers roaming the Russian forest
where Liz was camped out in a rustic cabin with no mod cons, she knew
that becoming a big cat’s breakfast was a definite possibility. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘You were pretty safe when you were with the group, but on your own you were vulnerable,’ explains Liz. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘Whatever
you were doing you had to be quick, because at those temperatures you
didn’t want to get frostbite. And if you let your imagination run riot,
you’d think there was a tiger behind you...’ </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<br /> <span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Luckily Liz, already well known to
fans of the science show Bang Goes The Theory, survived her no-frills
adventure and is back in the UK to talk about tigers, a cause
particularly close to her heart – she studied tiger conservation in
India and Nepal for her masters degree. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">For
Operation Snow Tiger Liz travelled with a BBC camera crew to Primorye
in the far south-eastern corner of Russia, to film the efforts being
made to save the estimated 300 remaining Siberian tigers in the wild.
With a dead tiger fetching £30,000, they’re being hunted to the brink of
extinction for use in traditional Chinese medicine. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Liz
and the team met experts in the protected Ussurisk Zapovednik area
monitoring the remaining tigers, and the BBC Natural History Unit’s crew
brought along motion-sensor cameras to capture its first-ever footage
of Siberian tigers, at 70 stone the largest and most elusive of the big
cats.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf4HVXk3KOk/UdA0NSgzhxI/AAAAAAAACCM/onq1N-EqDG8/s634/Liz+Bonnin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cf4HVXk3KOk/UdA0NSgzhxI/AAAAAAAACCM/onq1N-EqDG8/s634/Liz+Bonnin.jpg" height="193" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Liz joined the
scientists to follow tiger tracks in the snow, collect hair for DNA
analysis, and use radio signals to help locate seven previously tagged
tigers. There was the odd scary near-miss. </span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘When we were out tracking, the radio
signal would bounce off hills and obstructions and wasn’t always
reliable,’ says Liz. ‘Once I was chatting to one of the scientists and
he said, “Wait, wait!” and suddenly the signal told us a tiger was very
close.’ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">They dashed to the Jeep. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘My
heart was beating through my chest! Only about 50 metres away was a
tiger in the trees. Usually they want nothing to do with us, but on rare
occasions a tiger will be dangerous if it’s injured or starving or
you’re encroaching on its prey area. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘Part
of the fascination of these animals is that they’re so elusive and
secretive – the fact they try not to be seen adds to the mystery and
magic. We came across their beds in the snow. They were so perfect you
could see where the female had lain there for six hours, where her tail
had been, and there was an imprint of her chin and nostrils that had
melted the snow as she slept. It was almost a 3D picture. The snow
brings these tigers to life.’</span><br />
<br /><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">There was high drama over several
days when three tiger cubs whose mother had been shot by poachers had to
be tracked down, captured and sent to a rehabilitation centre before
they starved. ‘No one could have anticipated such dramatic events
occurring while we were there,’ says Liz. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘When
the rangers located the first one and rescued her, they got her into a
cage and I was allowed to see her. Seeing those eyes staring back at me
melted my heart. But it was sad because she was orphaned, bewildered,
separated from her siblings. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'I
wanted her to be out in the forest with her mother, but instead she
would be held for a year, with minimal human contact, and trained to
hunt wild prey until she was deemed fit for release into the wild. I’d
love to go back next spring when hopefully all three cubs may be ready
for release.’ </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Born in
France but raised in Ireland, Liz took a biochemistry degree at Trinity
College, Dublin, then a masters degree in wild animal biology. In
between her studies she presented entertainment shows on Irish TV and
had a brief stint in a short-lived Irish girl band called Chill, before
moving to the UK in 2002 for a job on Channel 4’s RI:SE and then Top Of
The Pops. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">But in 2006
she chucked it all in to study tigers because she ‘missed academia’,
before returning to TV to present science shows such as Springwatch and
Stargazing Live. Siberian tiger conservation remains her passion,
though. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">‘This
documentary series is the result of many years of me hassling the BBC
Natural History Unit. Eventually they shut me up by sending me to the
Russian Far East!’ </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Liz
is currently filming another documentary series on animal behaviour, a
follow-up to last year’s Super Smart Animals, and at this rate it’s not
fanciful to imagine her career emulating that of her idol David
Attenborough. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">She
remains modest, though, and still seems surprised at her status as one
of the rising stars of science television. ‘When I was younger, watching
Big Cat Diary, I used to look at the presenters and think, “Imagine
doing that as a job!” But now I’m here. At the risk of sounding slightly
dramatic, I feel as though my whole life has led to this point.’ </span><br />
<br /><br /></div>
Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-81677659567279336602013-02-10T08:29:00.004-08:002013-02-10T08:29:40.396-08:00Orphaned Siberian Tiger Cubs Prepared to be Returned to Nature<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VQEjJD0jbw/URfK4w0Bj4I/AAAAAAAAB0g/dO6b9LSGpeM/s1600/medium.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5VQEjJD0jbw/URfK4w0Bj4I/AAAAAAAAB0g/dO6b9LSGpeM/s200/medium.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Last fall, in the frigid, snowy forests of the Russian Far East, three
wild tiger cubs lost their most important ally: their mother. Our story
began on Nov. 29 with a phone call to the Wildlife Conservation Society
(WCS) office in Vladivostok from Vladimir Vasiliev, the head of the
regional wildlife department, Okhotnazor. He requested our assistance in
capturing the four-month-old cubs, which had created a stir near a
small village by attempting to make a meal out of a farmer's dog.<br />
<br />
We responded immediately by deploying WCS conservationists (and
brothers) Kolya and Sasha Rybin, two of the best tiger trackers in the
world. The WCS team met up with rangers from the Russian agency,
Inspection Tiger, the local inspector from Okhotnazor, and staff from
the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution before heading out to
find the cubs.<br />
<br />
What ensued offers a frontline look at the
challenges conservationists encounter in saving the world's tigers from
going extinct — sometimes one tiger at a time. Today, fewer than 500
Siberian tigers — the largest of the tiger subspecies — survive,
including an estimated 330 to 390 adults. Globally, only 3,200 tigers
are thought to still exist in the wild, their numbers decimated by
poaching, loss of prey, and habitat destruction.<br />
On Nov. 30, the
team had its first lead: fresh tracks in a recent snowfall just outside a
village. Before long, the team spotted the cubs sitting in the middle
of a forest road, curiously staring back at them before drifting into
the woods. The team surrounded the area and was able to capture the
smallest of the cubs with a combination of forked sticks and a large
canvas bag. Weighing only 35 pounds, the cub already had formidable
teeth and claws. (Sasha received a good nip to his finger during the
capture.)<br />
<br />
Photo shows one of the sedated Siberian tiger cubs when
found. For the next six to seven months, this cub and its two siblings
would live in a specially constructed rehabilitation facility in the
Russian Far East. The facility is designed to minimize the tigers'
contact with humans so they will remain wary of people. <br />
</div>
Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-67141935496659717822012-12-30T06:47:00.002-08:002012-12-30T06:47:16.968-08:00Next-generation Siberian tigers to breed in wild<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tARZ_K0udL4/UOBT3aVCJ8I/AAAAAAAABtE/xSyawOsm_Zg/s1600/siberian+tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tARZ_K0udL4/UOBT3aVCJ8I/AAAAAAAABtE/xSyawOsm_Zg/s200/siberian+tiger.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
China is planning to let
artificially-bred next-generation Siberian tigers to breed in the wild, a
leading breeding center for the endangered species announced Tuesday.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
A seven-year-old tiger gave birth to a
female cub on July 25, 2011, which was the first successful breeding of a
Siberian tiger in the wild in China.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
"This cub, now one and a half years old,
will play the leading role in the wild breeding plan of the
next-generation tigers," said Liu Dan, chief engineer of the
Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Garden.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
The center is the world's largest breeding facility for Siberian tigers.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
The cub is currently more than 70 cm
long and 50 kg in weight. Its physical agility and cold resistance
ability is superior to its peers due to wild training, Liu said.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
The park has found a male Siberian
tiger, which is one meter long and 60 kg in weight, that will live with
the female tiger in the free-roaming area, Liu said.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
Breeding and living in the wild is key for the tigers to go back to the mountains, he said.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
The wild breeding of the next-generation
Siberian tigers is another attempt to restore the tigers' wild nature
and is crucial in protecting the species, he added.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
Siberian tigers are one of the world's
rarest animal species. Only 300 are believed to be living in the wild,
with 20 in northeast China.</div>
<div style="margin: 0px 3px 15px;">
The country has been trying to save the
species through active breeding programs. The Heilongjiang center has
bred more than 1,000 Siberian tigers since its establishment in 1986,
when it had just eight of the large cats. </div>
</div>
Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-44854470350793098672012-11-28T06:36:00.001-08:002012-11-28T06:36:04.725-08:00Siberian Tiger Quest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="283" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/53757860?badge=0" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="500"></iframe> <br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/53757860"></a><br />
Chris Morgan has tracked large predators in some of the wildest and
remote places on Earth. He now embarks on his greatest challenge along
with Sooyong Park - to find and film the elusive Siberian tigers living
wild and free in Russia's far Eastern forests. <br />
<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br /></div>
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Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-44891021289524648962012-11-08T06:16:00.001-08:002012-11-08T06:16:12.634-08:00The Saga of the Siberian Tiger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
My last blog dealt with the declining vulture population in India.
This week we’re going to Russia and Northern China to talk about the
Siberian tiger.<br />
<br />
This big cat also known as the Amur tiger is in terrible danger.
Today, it is estimated 400 to 450 of these tigers remain in the wild.
The good news, through conservation efforts by world organizations and
government agencies, the species has came back from the brink when it
was estimated only 40 tigers were left in their natural habitat in the
1950’s.<br />
<br />
But the bad news is the gains made in the last 50 years are about to
be wiped away in the next few years. This latest development has world
wildlife conservations and experts on edge.<br />
<br />
Why? There are a number of reasons:<br />
<br />
1) <strong>Poaching:</strong> Perhaps the greatest contributor to
the tiger’s recent decline. Illegal hunting and the harvesting of tiger
organs for traditional medicinal remedies used in China are having a
huge impact. This activity is on the rise.<br />
<br />
2) <strong>Habitat Destruction:</strong> This can mean a number of
different things. Increased logging which means road building. With the
roads, large territories become cut off. Roads also make it easier for
illegal hunters to move about. Climate change via forest fires has also
contributed to habitat destruction.<br />
<br />
3) <strong>Lack of Law Enforcement:</strong> With the economies of
China and Russia slowing down, budget cuts to wildlife enforcement will
soon follow. There are simply not enough good people to keep watch and
to protect the tigers.<br />
<br />
This is all very sad. But you might be saying to yourself there’s
very little you can do. You can donate to international wildlife
conservation funds and write letters to Chinese and Russian leaders.
There are plenty of projects set up exclusively to save the Siberian
tiger. Here is one project that has done a lot of work and continues to
this day.</div>
Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-88945212896570178872012-10-08T00:40:00.000-07:002012-10-08T00:40:00.224-07:00Siberian Tiger Quest<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
View footage of the first wild Siberian tiger that filmmaker Sooyong Park captured on camera in this scene from <i>Siberian Tiger Quest</i>.
Park spent more than five years searching for tigers in Russia’s north
eastern forests. His technique was unconventional, but produced over a
thousand hours of wild tiger footage that told the story of a
three-generation tiger dynasty.<br />
<br />
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<div style="background: transparent; color: grey; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; margin-top: 5px; text-align: center; width: 512px;">
Watch <a href="http://video.pbs.org/video/2285827482" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Alone with Tigers</a> on PBS. See more from <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/" style="color: #4eb2fe !important; font-weight: normal !important; height: 13px; text-decoration: none !important;" target="_blank">Nature.</a></div>
<br /></div>
Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-36886989365694121252012-09-19T04:32:00.000-07:002012-09-19T04:32:02.396-07:00Amur Tiger Family Killed in Primorye<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCHeIG88Ny4/UFms2Qe4aJI/AAAAAAAABZk/7A76UAJrAc8/s1600/photo-of-seized-tiger-skins_by-pavel-fomenko_wwf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SCHeIG88Ny4/UFms2Qe4aJI/AAAAAAAABZk/7A76UAJrAc8/s200/photo-of-seized-tiger-skins_by-pavel-fomenko_wwf.jpg" width="149" /></a></div>Sources: Komsomolskaya Pravda, PrimaMedia, RIA Novosti<br />
<br />
Eight Amur tiger skins were seized from a resident of Arseniev town in Primorsky krai (Russian Far East).<br />
<br />
The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is revered by most people in Primorye as the most beautiful and majestic animal, a symbol of the region. Although there are some people who consider it just roaming “striped money” and try to get, by fair means or foul, a skin of this rare animal listed as endangered species in Red Books of the Russian Federation and IUCN. Among the seized skins there were also small ones of 1- or 2-month-old tiger cubs. The specialists think that hunters killed the whole tiger family. The damage caused to nature is huge. For example, about 8-10 adult Amur tigers live in Lazovsky Nature Reserve (120,000 ha), one of the largest nature reserves in Primorye.<br />
<br />
“Viktor, a wildlife dealer, is well-known by investigators for his illegal business; he has been buying up illegal wildlife products since the 1990s and was apprehended several times. Unfortunately, his appetite has significantly increased since then”, Primorsky Police’ press service informed. “Besides tiger skins, the police officers found 230 ginseng roots, 97 bottles of vodka with ginseng roots, 150 cartridges and about $115,000 in cash. The man allegedly bought up the goods from poachers in order to sell them later on in China”.<br />
<br />
The man is now facing a heavy fine or a two-year imprisonment under the article 175 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (Acquisition or Sale of Property, Knowingly Obtained in a Criminal Manner). He will be also punished under the article 222 (Illegal Acquisition, Transfer, Sale, Storage, Transportation, or Bearing of Firearms, Its Basic Parts, Ammunition, Explosives, and Explosive Devices).<br />
<br />
We are thankful to unindifferent people who informed the police about the dealer, and police officers should be applauded for their prompt and successful actions ended up with an arrest of the dealer and seizure of tiger skins. Now, the specialists must determine the gender and age of killed animals and their range. Judging by the difference of quality the skins were processed, they are likely to have been bought in different districts of Primorye.<br />
<br />
“Despite the fact that after International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg in 2010 the Russian Government is allocating big money to conserve Amur tigers in protected areas, poaching, however, continues to be a major hurdle yet. Unfortunately, the government is suffering defeat in its fight with poachers”, says Sergei Bereznuk, Director of the Phoenix Fund. “We have not recovered yet from the last alarming news about a huge seizure of skins and derivatives of wild animals in April. During a search the police accidentally discovered 148 bear paws, 2 skins of the Himalayan bear, 3 skins of the brown bear, two skins and 5 tails of Amur tiger and 5 carcasses of a sea eagle. We hope that the arrested men will receive just punishment for their crimes”.<br />
<br />
<span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="en"><span class="hps">This</span> <span class="hps">news was</span> <span class="hps">found</span> <span class="hps">Jen</span> <span class="hps">Dowdy -thanks Jen.</span></span></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-79554878596733489382012-08-20T07:28:00.001-07:002012-08-20T08:18:39.406-07:00Tiger and kid at zoo<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Tiger Wants the Next Dance with a Little Visitor to the Zoo</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfnhG2_cdGA/UDJI98rMlKI/AAAAAAAABV8/FuLgNatdlpQ/s1600/tigar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EfnhG2_cdGA/UDJI98rMlKI/AAAAAAAABV8/FuLgNatdlpQ/s640/tigar.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><br />
</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-55269188953551436962012-08-06T01:29:00.006-07:002012-08-06T01:29:00.763-07:00China announces Siberian tiger wilderness training<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpZ5bgOZPI8/UB6ECJSVBDI/AAAAAAAABTA/xyD36rXzNw4/s1600/Siberian+tiger+wilderness+training.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="128" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PpZ5bgOZPI8/UB6ECJSVBDI/AAAAAAAABTA/xyD36rXzNw4/s200/Siberian+tiger+wilderness+training.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Harbin at a North China breeding center announced on Friday the beginning of a wilderness training program for Siberian tigers.<br />
<br />
Seven Siberian tigers are participating in the program and the figure is expected to rise to 11 by the end of the year, said sources with the Heilongjiang Siberian Tiger Garden, the world's largest breeding center for Siberian tigers.<br />
<br />
Participating tigers must be cubs born within the breeding center, said chief engineer Liu Dan, adding that they will be sent to demarcated areas within the center's reserve accompanied by their mothers.<br />
<br />
"It's an arduous experiment," Liu said, adding that the cubs must be three months or older in order to endure the wilderness.<br />
<br />
Siberian tigers are one of the world's rarest animal species. Only 300 are believed to be living in the wild, with 20 in northeast China.<br />
<br />
China has been trying to save the species through active breeding programs. The Heilongjiang center has bred over 1,000 Siberian tigers since opening in 1996, when it had just eight of the large cats.</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-38322708283774481342012-07-30T01:25:00.001-07:002012-07-30T01:25:00.118-07:00Pet Dog Turns Wet Nurse for Pair of Tiger Cubs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzIMVV0Q8Ds/UBVIRyUj3QI/AAAAAAAABRQ/-I4fNQdIk_0/s1600/siberian+tiger+and+dog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rzIMVV0Q8Ds/UBVIRyUj3QI/AAAAAAAABRQ/-I4fNQdIk_0/s200/siberian+tiger+and+dog.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div id="spIntroTeaser" itemprop="description">House cats, it would seem, aren't the only felines with nine lives. A pair of Siberian tiger cubs, whose mother died during birth, have been adopted by a pet dog in the Russian town of Sochi. The dog's owner, however, has a baby of her own, meaning the tigers will have to be returned to the zoo soon.</div><div id="spIntroTeaser" itemprop="description"><br />
</div><div id="spArticleSection"> When Siberian tiger cubs Plyusha and Clyopa's mother died during their birth in late May in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, zookeepers didn't know what to do. Then, Yekaterina Khodakova, 30, and her pet dog came to their rescue.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="spMInline"> </div>The dog, a Shar Pei named Cleopatra, had recently given birth to two pups of her own. "The zookeeper found out by chance that my dog, Cleopatra, was producing milk because she is nursing her pups, so he asked me if the tiger cubs could also be breastfed," Khodakova told SPIEGEL. </div><div id="spArticleSection"> Survival of the cubs would be a victory for conservationists. Siberian tigers are extremely rare: less than 400 live in the wild, mostly in the cedar forests of far eastern Russia.<br />
<br />
<b>Determined Effort</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
At first, Cleopatra was not willing to collaborate. Already nursing pups of her own, the Shar Pei was "initially reluctant and tried to bite" the tigers, said Khodakova.<br />
<br />
After some coaxing reprimands from her owner, however, Cleopatra relented. "I didn't give up," said Khodakova. "I told Cleopatra that they would die if they didn't get milk. And sure enough, the next day, Cleopatra had adopted the unfamiliar cubs!" The dog now takes care of the tiger cubs as if they were her own puppies.<br />
<br />
Both the dogs and the tiger cubs are getting additional sustenence during the ordeal. According to Khodakova, Cleopatra is now getting meat from the zoo "because she needs a lot of energy to breastfeed." The tiger cubs are also being fed goat milk.<br />
<br />
<b>Just Friends</b><br />
<b> </b> <br />
Khodakova's gumption is remarkable considering that she also has an 18-month-old son, Gleb. She says she is "not afraid that the tiger cubs will bite (him). To (Gleb), they are like two friends."<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="spMInline"> </div>Despite her desire to keep the cubs for longer, Khodakova knows that it they will have to leave soon. Over a month old, Plyusha and Clyopa are growing quickly, and soon, "it will be too dangerous for Gleb to play with them," says Khodakova. She says she will return the cubs to the local zoo at the end of July.<br />
<br />
That will still leave Khodakova with a small menagerie at home. In addition to the dogs and tigers, she also has a house cat named Masyanana.<br />
</div><div id="spIntroTeaser" itemprop="description"><br />
</div></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-30952353037292401972012-07-23T01:16:00.001-07:002012-07-23T01:16:00.072-07:00No more photos with Siberian tiger cubs in China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Wildlife conservation and forestry departments in a Chinese province have announced that visitors will not be allowed to click themselves with Siberian tiger cubs at a tiger park in future.<br />
<br />
The step followed a complaint filed by a resident, surnamed Li, living near Siberian Tiger Park, the largest Siberian tiger breeding base in the world, to the provincial forestry department, Xinhua reported Thursday.<br />
Li said that visitors to the park were allowed to take pictures with Siberian tiger cubs for 100 yuan (about $16).<br />
<br />
"The cubs cried miserably, and that's so pitiful," said Li, adding that the cubs would hide behind the tree after being photographed. "Obviously, they aren't willing to do this."<br />
<br />
Li's complaint won the support of local wildlife conservation and forestry departments, and the relevant departments of Heilongjiang province decided to stop the profitable activity.<br />
<br />
Some wildlife enthusiasts, however, said the practice was understandable as many animal parks and zoos suffer from a lack of funding.<br />
<br />
Siberian tigers are among the world's rarest species. Their population in the wild is estimated to stand at around 500. Most of the tigers live in east Russia and northeast China.<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><br />
</div></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-72174688088987743502012-07-15T07:22:00.000-07:002012-07-15T07:22:27.516-07:00Man Commits Suicide By Wandering Into Siberian Tiger Pen<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrEeT6yisoI/UALR3OADEqI/AAAAAAAABPY/wSrCklOT2po/s1600/tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="127" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YrEeT6yisoI/UALR3OADEqI/AAAAAAAABPY/wSrCklOT2po/s200/tiger.jpg" width="200" /></a><em></em> A man was killed by tigers at Copenhagen Zoo today after he scaled a fence and crossed a moat to gain access to the predators’ enclosure. The victim, who was 21, was savaged by three tigers after he broke into the zoo in the Danish capital in the early hours. He was found dead surrounded by the Siberian tigers when staff arrived for work. It is unclear why the man, who has not yet been identified, entered the enclosure but police have not ruled out suicide as a possible motive. Superintendent Lars Borg revealed that a post-mortem examination has shown the man was bitten on the thigh, chest, face and throat. ‘The tigers attacked him and killed him. It is likely that a bite to the throat was the primary reason for his death.<br />
<br />
A lot of people feel a certain way about cats, but when you look at their build there really aren’t that many better killers out in the animal kingdom. Big cats and sharks kind of have a stranglehold on things. People hate housecats because they live their lives believing they’re a tiger when really they’re just a pussy, but legitimate tigers should be respected for the jugular-striking murderers they are. They’re quick, strong, hunt in packs, always land on their feet, and have Wolverine claws. This kid knew what he was doing.<br />
<br />
He went out with a fight. Some people prefer a quiet suicide with lots of solemn reflection, others wanna fist-fight a pack of Siberian tigers until we see who’s best. Yeah, the tigers are best, but if my man held his own I’m sure there’s a bloody tiger missing an eye or something. Either way it was way more riveting than jumping off a bridge or taking a Seau-ing himself the chest.</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-89646465090494348692012-07-07T07:18:00.000-07:002012-07-07T07:18:53.717-07:00Siberian Tiger Cub, Puppy And Cat All Play Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Zmr0d1L1Rc/T_hFQFMpcWI/AAAAAAAABO0/yN504Y1b0VY/s1600/slide_237031_1189078_free.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Zmr0d1L1Rc/T_hFQFMpcWI/AAAAAAAABO0/yN504Y1b0VY/s200/slide_237031_1189078_free.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Meet Plyusha, a baby Siberian tiger born in late May at a small zoo in Sochi, Russia. Since poaching is a real threat to the species, the zoo was overjoyed until, as the <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em> reports, the mother refused to feed her babies. <br />
Luckily for the cubs, the zoo was found Yekaterina Khodakova, a woman with a Shar Pei dog who recently had a litter of puppies -- and she began to feed the baby tigers as her own. <br />
Scroll through the photos of baby Plyusha playing with the puppy, a cat, and a baby -- they're almost too good to be true. <br />
<em>Want more adorable pictures of newborn animals? Click over to this slideshow of baby otters cuddling and sleeping on towels.</em></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-64018643870499125902012-06-17T04:54:00.002-07:002012-06-17T04:54:45.058-07:00Infrared camera snaps Siberian tiger in wild<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The forestry department of Wangqing county in Jilin province confirmed this week it has captured photos of a wild Siberian tiger again with a far-infrared camera set up on Changbai Mountain.<br />
<br />
Forestry department workers set the cameras up on the mountain in March and discovered the photos after recently retrieving the cameras.<br />
<br />
Jiang Guangshun, expert of the World Wide Fund for Nature, helped confirm that the animals in the photos are the rare cats.<br />
<br />
The photos taken in April are valuable for research purposes, he told China Daily on Thursday. <br />
There are about 500 Siberian tigers in the world, mainly live the border region between China, Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.<br />
<br />
China has intensified the preservation of forests and protection of wildlife in the past decade. The efforts have paid off, with the rare cats' population showing recovery. </div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-90056325565660905312012-06-10T06:53:00.000-07:002012-06-10T06:53:54.186-07:00Dog Nurses Siberian Tiger Cubs In Sochi, Russia<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-agpZL5TRSus/T9Sm4_bXT1I/AAAAAAAABMk/Whg_QNDjlJA/s1600/o-DOG-TIGER-570.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-agpZL5TRSus/T9Sm4_bXT1I/AAAAAAAABMk/Whg_QNDjlJA/s200/o-DOG-TIGER-570.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Two Siberian tiger cubs abandoned in Russia by their mother have found an unusual wet nurse — a wrinkled, sand-colored Shar Pei dog named Cleopatra, a zoo worker said Wednesday.<br />
<br />
The cubs were born late May in a zoo at the Oktyabrsky health resort in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.<br />
Zoo assistant director Viktoria Kudlayeva said the dog immediately gave the cubs all her attention.<br />
"She accepted them right away," Kudlayeva said in a telephone interview. "She's cleaning them and breast feeding them as if they were her own. And they also sleep together."<br />
<br />
The cubs — named Clyopa, after their adopted mother, and Plyusha — are also being fed goat's milk.<br />
Kudlayeva said that the cubs pose no danger to the dog even though they are already showing their claws and hissing.<br />
<br />
"They aren't aggressive and they depend on her for feeding," she said.<br />
<br />
Fewer than 400 Siberian tigers — also known as Ussuri, Amur or Manchurian tigers — have survived in the wild, most of them in Russia's Far East.<br />
<br />
</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-78455574725051870332012-05-21T07:43:00.002-07:002012-05-21T07:43:26.999-07:00Is there a future for Amur tigers in a restored tiger conservation landscape in Northeast China?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The future of wild tigers is dire, and the Global Tiger Initiative's (GTI) goal of doubling tiger population size by the next year of the tiger in 2022 will be challenging. The GTI has identified 20 tiger conservation landscapes (TCL) within which recovery actions will be needed to achieve these goals. The Amur tiger conservation landscape offers the best hope for tiger recovery in China where all other subspecies have most likely become extirpated. To prioritize recovery planning within this TCL, we used tiger occurrence data from adjacent areas of the Russian Far East to develop two empirical models of potential habitat that were then averaged with an expert-based habitat suitability model to identify potential tiger habitat in the Changbaishan ecosystem in Northeast China. We assessed the connectivity of tiger habitat patches using least-cost path analysis calibrated against known tiger movements in the Russian Far East to identify priority tiger conservation areas (TCAs). Using a habitat-based population estimation approach, we predicted that a potential of 98 (83–112) adult tigers could occupy all TCAs in the Changbaishan ecosystem. By combining information about habitat quality, connectivity and potential population size, we identified the three best TCAs totaling over 25 000 km<sup>2</sup> of potential habitat that could hold 79 (63–82) adult tigers. Strong recovery actions are needed to restore potential tiger habitat to promote recovery of Amur tigers in China, including restoring ungulate populations, increasing tiger survival through improved anti-poaching activities, land-use planning that reduces human access and agricultural lands in and adjacent to key TCAs, and maintaining connectivity both within and across international boundaries. Our approach will be useful in other TCLs to prioritize recovery actions to restore worldwide tiger populations.</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-39072313045215424232012-05-08T04:09:00.000-07:002012-05-08T04:09:08.923-07:00Four Siberian tigers poached in two weeks<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="firstLetter">O</span>n April 18, a Chinese woman was detained on the Russian border in the Far Eastern region of Primorye with three Siberian tiger legs. <br />
<br />
According to the press service of the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund, the legs (two from an adult male, the other from a young male or adult female) were hidden beneath her clothes.<br />
<br />
At least four Siberian tigers have been killed in the past two weeks, Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency added, citing local law enforcement and customs officers. The population of Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, in Russia's Primorye and Khabarovsk regions reportedly numbers up to 450 animals.<br />
<br />
The report said that the tiger legs were "treated in a traditional Chinese method," implying that they were meant to be used for traditional Chinese medicine. Tiger bones and claws are <strong>used for various remedies</strong>, with powdered bone prepared as "tiger wine," an especially popular treatment for rheumatic pain, ulcers, malaria, and burns.<br />
<br />
Poaching continues to be a threat to attempts to preserve the subspecies in southeastern Russian and northeastern China.<br />
<br />
But as the <strong>Wildlife Conservation Society</strong> (WCS) reports, Russia on April 9 declared the merger of three existing natural reserves in the region into what has been dubbed the "Land of the Leopard" national park. The park will not only be a boon to the Siberian tiger but to the even-more-endangered Far Eastern (Amur) leopard subspecies, thought to number less than 40.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-left: 40px;"> <em>"We commend the Russian government for their foresight in creating this new protected area, and we are optimistic that it will provide a critical refuge for some of the most endangered big cats on the planet," WCS Russia Program Director Dale Miquelle said.</em></div><br />
With this good news, one can only hope the tigers fare better than the poor beast that <strong>allegedly met its end for the benefit of a photo-op</strong> for once-and-future Russian President Vladimir Putin. </div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-80160149099089576122012-04-22T07:38:00.000-07:002012-04-22T07:38:56.963-07:00One Step Forward, One Step Back For Russia's Siberian Tigers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrZNtWDSVvc/T5QX81STpNI/AAAAAAAABFo/Jj0DH9clADc/s1600/One+Step+Forward,+One+Step+Back+For+Russia%27s+Siberian+Tigers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CrZNtWDSVvc/T5QX81STpNI/AAAAAAAABFo/Jj0DH9clADc/s200/One+Step+Forward,+One+Step+Back+For+Russia%27s+Siberian+Tigers.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>On April 18, a Chinese woman was detained on the Russian border in the Far Eastern region of Primorye with three Siberian tiger legs.<br />
<br />
According to the press service of the local branch of the World Wildlife Fund, the legs (two from an adult male, the other from a young male or adult female) were hidden beneath her clothes.<br />
<br />
At least four Siberian tigers have been killed in the past two weeks, Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency added, citing local law enforcement and customs officers. The population of Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, in Russia's Primorye and Khabarovsk regions reportedly numbers up to 450 animals.<br />
<br />
The report said that the tiger legs were "treated in a traditional Chinese method," implying that they were meant to be used for traditional Chinese medicine. Tiger bones and claws are used for various remedies, with powdered bone prepared as "tiger wine," an especially popular treatment for rheumatic pain, ulcers, malaria, and burns.<br />
<br />
Poaching continues to be a threat to attempts to preserve the subspecies in southeastern Russian and northeastern China.<br />
<br />
But as the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) reports, Russia on April 9 declared the merger of three existing natural reserves in the region into what has been dubbed the "Land of the Leopard" national park. The park will not only be a boon to the Siberian tiger but to the even-more-endangered Far Eastern (Amur) leopard subspecies, thought to number less than 40.<br />
<br />
"We commend the Russian government for their foresight in creating this new protected area, and we are optimistic that it will provide a critical refuge for some of the most endangered big cats on the planet," WCS Russia Program Director Dale Miquelle said.<br />
<br />
With this good news, one can only hope the tigers fare better than the poor beast that allegedly met its end for the benefit of a photo-op for once-and-future Russian President Vladimir Putin. <br />
</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-83319065501302171792012-04-09T04:11:00.000-07:002012-04-09T04:11:18.056-07:00Free the Siberian Tigers In Cyprus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The Siberian Tiger is an Endangered Species inhabiting mainly the Sikhote Alin mountain region with a small subpopulation in southwest Primorye province in the Russian Far East where their dense and waterproof coats are built to withstand the cold temperatures. These beautiful creatures now reside in a crappy run-down zoo in Cyprus that should be shut down due to it's extremely poor living conditions, of not only exotic endangered tigers, but also of their Bird & Animal Park. <br />
<br />
Some of the birds are kept in very small cages and aren't even allowed to fully stand upright due to the inadequate height of cage(s), with little to no shade from the scorching hot summer temperatures + poor water (small dirty dishes) and severe lack of care & compassion for these animals. This isn't a Zoo, but a prison for all it's residents. Please sign this petition in hopes of (at least) getting better accommodation for it's animal prisoners. These tigers need to roam and hunt and need a bigger living space or need to be moved to an appropriate Wildlife Sanctuary.. now! <br />
<br />
They need a (safe, unpolluted) natural pond to bathe in, an air-conditioned room to keep cool, dens built as a refuge from the (temperatures can soar here during summer months - 37* C is probably a good day) heat.. and a better diet. They need wildlife experts & veterinarians called in regularly to oversee the situation and determine if the tigers are thriving. Throwing them some chicken and a few ice cubes in a pool is NOT SATISFACTORY! If the zoo can't afford to invest in the welfare of these tigers, and all of it's animals, it should release them immediately. <br />
<br />
Please do the right thing, and sign this petition. Change starts here! Thank you!<br />
<br />
<div class="item2" style="padding: 25px 0 15px;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Petition:</span></div><div class="petition">The Siberian Tiger is an Endangered Species inhabiting mainly the Sikhote Alin mountain region with a small subpopulation in southwest Primorye province in the Russian Far East where their dense and waterproof coats are built to withstand the cold temperatures. <br />
<br />
These beautiful creatures now reside in a crappy run-down zoo in Cyprus that should be shut down due to it's extremely poor living conditions, of not only exotic endangered tigers, but also of their Bird & Animal Park. Some of the birds are kept in very small cages and aren't even allowed to fully stand upright due to the inadequate height of cage(s), with little to no shade from the scorching hot summer temperatures + poor water (small dirty dishes) and severe lack of care & compassion for these animals. This isn't a Zoo, but a prison for all it's residents. Please sign this petition in hopes of (at least) getting better accommodation for it's animal prisoners. <br />
<br />
These tigers need to roam and hunt and need a bigger living space or need to be moved to an appropriate Wildlife Sanctuary.. now! They need a (safe, unpolluted) natural pond to bathe in, an air-conditioned room to keep cool, dens built as a refuge from the (temperatures can soar here during summer months - 37* C is probably a good day) heat.. and a better diet. They need wildlife experts & veterinarians called in regularly to oversee the situation and determine if the tigers are thriving. Throwing them some chicken and a few ice cubes in a pool is NOT SATISFACTORY! If the zoo can't afford to invest in the welfare of these tigers, and all of it's animals, it should release them immediately. <br />
<br />
Please do the right thing, and sign this petition. <br />
<br />
http://www.cyprus-mail.com/siberian-tiger/paphos-zoo-welcomes-rare-tigers/20120322<br />
<br />
After you sign, please join the Facebook page: Saying NO Siberian Tigers In Cyprus</div></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-21091628961106212882012-03-26T04:54:00.000-07:002012-03-26T04:54:36.131-07:00Tell China- Save the Siberian Tiger<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRXOp3puOLg/T3BY6gv_LvI/AAAAAAAABDk/4Daez0bGN3g/s1600/284770-1332237170-main.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRXOp3puOLg/T3BY6gv_LvI/AAAAAAAABDk/4Daez0bGN3g/s200/284770-1332237170-main.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><ul class="description_stats"><li><strong>Target:</strong> China Ministry of Finance, Mr. Xiaosong Zheng, Ms. Jiandi Ye</li>
<li><strong>Sponsored by:</strong> Animal Advocates</li>
</ul><span id="overview_trunc"><div style="display: block;">The Siberian tiger, or Amur tiger is a critically endangered species with one of the primary threats to its' survival in the wild being poaching.<br />
<br />
Their former range included northeastern China and the Korean Peninsula, and as far west as Mongolia. Now, almost all wild Siberian tigers live the Southeast corner of Russia in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range east of the Amur River.<br />
<br />
Tigers are most commonly poached for their fur and for their body parts used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 1993 the State Council of the People's Republic of China issued a notice declaring the use of tiger bone for medicinal purposes to be illegal. However, because it is such a lucrative trade, a single tiger can bring up to $50k on the International market, so the practice is still flourishing.<br />
<strong><br />
<span style="font-weight: normal;">If the Siberian tiger is to survive extinction in the wild, China must do more to replace the Traditional Chinese Medicine with phamecutical alternatives and substitue medicines.</span></strong><br />
<strong></strong><br />
<strong><br />
Mr. Xiaosong Zheng </strong><br />
Director General<br />
Ministry of Finance - International Department<br />
Sanlihe Xicheng District<br />
Beijing - 100820<br />
China<br />
Tel: + 8610 6855 1122<br />
Fax: + 8610 6855 1125<br />
EMail: xs.zheng@mof.gov.cn<br />
<strong><br />
Ms. Jiandi Ye</strong><br />
Deputry Director<br />
Ministry of Finance<br />
IFI Division III International Department San Li He St. Xichengqu<br />
Beijing - 100820<br />
China<br />
Tel: + 86 10 6855-1171<br />
Fax: + 86 10 6855 1125<br />
EMail: jdye@mof.gov.cn</div></span></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-3501811001712357472012-03-16T08:55:00.000-07:002012-03-16T08:55:09.691-07:00Tiger fights plaque attack! Siberian big cat flosses on a nearby branch to stop his teeth decaying<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_CzbhbH78_M/T2NiSEWcvyI/AAAAAAAABCE/XSD8EiuaOQ8/s1600/Siberian+big+cat+flosses+on+a+nearby+branch+to+stop+his+teeth+decaying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="146" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_CzbhbH78_M/T2NiSEWcvyI/AAAAAAAABCE/XSD8EiuaOQ8/s200/Siberian+big+cat+flosses+on+a+nearby+branch+to+stop+his+teeth+decaying.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 1.2em;">When you spend your life tearing through chunks of meat, you're bound to get a bit stuck between your teeth - not to mention the inevitable plaque build-up that follows.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">But it's not a hygiene hazard that has escaped this Siberian tiger.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Showing off his impressive dental skills, he makes use of a handy branch to give his gnashers a good floss.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Doing so regularly can help prevent gum disease and gingivitis which can cause bad breath and tooth decay.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Photographer Jutta Kirchner, who captured the action in the big cat's enclosure at Tiergarten Schvnbrunn zoo, in Vienna, Austria, said: 'I couldn't believe what I was seeing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'I've never seen an animal actively try to clean its teeth and I thought it was amazing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">'But I suppose they get things stuck in their teeth just like anyone else and find it just as irritating as the rest of us.'</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">Jutta has previously photographed Siberian tigers playing in the snow at the zoo.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The Siberian tiger lives mainly in the Sikhote Alin mountain region in east Russia.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">In 2005, there were under 400 adult Siberian tigers left in the region, with an adult breeding population of about 250.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 1.2em;">The population has been stable for more than a decade thanks to intensive conservation efforts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 1.2em;"> </span> </div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-79990525867310497162012-03-05T07:38:00.000-08:002012-03-05T07:38:48.035-08:00Russia Sends Siberian Tigers to Iran to Save Species<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Two pairs of Siberian tigers are being sent to Iran from <span class="tpk">Russia</span> as part of a joint project to boost the species' dwindling numbers in the Middle Eastern country.<br />
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<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">The Siberian, or Amur tigers, will arrive at the Miankaleh wildlife reserve on the coast of the Caspian Sea later this year.<br />
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The region's Caspian tigers have been almost wiped out because of excessive hunting and changes to their environment. Iranian zoologists chose the Amur tigers as a replacement because of genetic similarities.<br />
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The plan is to send the tigers to Iran during the winter to replicate as near as possible the Siberian weather conditions they are used to and reduce stress on the animals.<br />
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There are only a few hundred Amur tigers left in Russia.<br />
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In 2010, two Siberian tigers from Russia were housed at a zoo in Tehran, including a pregnant tigress, but one of them died.<br />
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</div></div></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-29667900860146477992012-02-19T05:03:00.000-08:002012-02-19T05:03:34.724-08:00Eleven tigers in a single photograph is a rare sight, indeed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAWLiYrmTyg/T0DzErBWN-I/AAAAAAAAA9I/9mPSBRBnUaA/s1600/e737a2e6b782c717db33ea5f6cca0717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KAWLiYrmTyg/T0DzErBWN-I/AAAAAAAAA9I/9mPSBRBnUaA/s200/e737a2e6b782c717db33ea5f6cca0717.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tigers are exceedingly rare. They're also very solitary creatures. So why are there 11 of them gathered in this photograph? <br />
These aren't your typical tigers. The cats you see here live in China's Heilongjiang Northeast Tiger Forest Park, the largest Siberian tiger breeding base on Earth. When it was founded in the mid eighties, the Park had only 8 tigers. Today, that number is estimated by some to be upwards of 800.<br />
New Scientist's Rowan Hooper writes:<br />
<blockquote> The Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) - also known as the Amur tiger - is classified as endangered on the IUCN Red List. Most of the estimated 400 Siberian tigers in the wild are in Russia, with a few in China. The wild ones, not unlike those in this tiger park, are heavily inbred, having passed through a genetic bottleneck in the 20th century, during which 95 per cent of all tigers were killed.<br />
This means that although the Chinese park contains hundreds of Siberian tigers, and there are those wild ones in Russia, the population's genetic diversity - which is a good guide to its vulnerability to extinction - is equivalent to that of <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.mambio.2011.01.011">just 14 individuals</a>.<br />
</blockquote><a href="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2012/02/9b71a7e3e106e7a998e0a93dfa1c552c.jpg" rel="lytebox" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Eleven tigers in a single photograph is a rare sight, indeed" class="image_1 v10_medium" src="http://cache.gawkerassets.com/assets/images/8/2012/02/medium_9b71a7e3e106e7a998e0a93dfa1c552c.jpg" style="max-width: 300px;" title="Eleven tigers in a single photograph is a rare sight, indeed" width="300" /></a>These tigers live, hunt, play, and even feed together — taking meals from trained caretakers, prowling for young steers that are released into the park, and chasing down live chickens, which tourists can pay to fling at the massive predators.</div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5638975532570266614.post-83377002910711763662012-02-12T14:01:00.001-08:002012-02-12T14:01:54.677-08:00Rare siberian tiger kills bus driver in China<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="story_text_1">A rare Siberian tiger attacked and killed a tour bus driver in northern China as he was checking his vehicle that was trapped in the snow, Chinese media reported.<br />
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The tiger pounced on driver Jin Shijun and dragged him into the forest at the world's largest Siberian tiger breeding base in the northern province of Heilongjiang, the state-run Xinhua News Agency said.<br />
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The report on Monday's attack cited a spokesman at the base, which has about 1,000 Siberian tigers.<br />
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Siberian tigers are one of the world's rarest species. An estimated 300 are left in the wild, but more than 5,000 are kept on farms and wildlife parks across China. </span></div>Zoran Ignjatovichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06217902355891986114noreply@blogger.com0