POPULATION JOT NOTES

Slide no. 1
Due to the ever increasing population in Russia, lots of development projects are
being put forth in an effort to keep up with they growing population. Most of the
projects require the destruction of habitats by cutting down trees for wood or
agriculture.Due to this, Amur Leopards are losing their homes.
Slide no. 2
Due to the scarce amounts of Amur Leopards left in the wild, which is about 30 to
40, they are being ignored on the list of other endangered animals left to preserve
since the chance of their existence in the next 30 to 40 years is very low. Due to
this, more attention is focused on saving other endangered animals like the
Javan Rhinos the government believes has a chance, to survive.
Slide no. 3
Amur Leopards used to be widespread in many numbers throughout Northeast
Asia. In the 1970's, the Russian population of Amur Leopards were divided into
three small spread out populations. Then, around the mid-20th century, their
distribution throughout Russia was limited to the far South of the Ussuri Region
due to the scarce numbers left.
Slide no. 4
The Demography of the percent of total morality would be as follows:
Out of the 30 or so left in the wild, 42% of them are being poached, 33% due to
natural circumstances, 8% due to road construction etc and 17% of them are
dying due to the various problems related to habitat loss like scarce amount of
prey left, loss of their homes etc.

POlITICAL JOT NOTES

Slide no. 1
Russia is a Democratic country which means that unless everyone in the
governments major roles is supportive of this issue, nothing will be done to save
the Amur Leopards. A few things that can be done with the governments
cooperation to help the Amur Leopards would be building Natural Reserves for
these animals so that they are not poached , Infusing stiffer charges and raising
the young of these animals in zoos that replicate the animals natural habitat.
Slide no. 2
The most recent law that has significantly made a difference in the number of
Amur Leopards killed was the law put forth by the Russian government to
increase the poaching fine to 100 times the nations annual minimum wage which
is $7.25 an hour. The reason this law made a difference was because people who
poach Amur Leopards are mainly doing it for money since most of them suffer
from poverty. This makes me think that if they are caught, they will not be able to
pay the fine and so will have to got through jail!
Slide no. 3
According to my research, there are actually many organizations working to help
Amur Leopards like ALTA, Zoological Society of London, Phoenix Fund, Wildlife
Vets International, Wildlife Conservation Society etc. ALTA channels funds to
these organizations to help Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 4
ZSL are monitoring Amur tiger numbers in Lazo and Zov Tigra and working on the
wildlife health monitoring project as well as working on anti-poaching activities.
WCS are monitoring both Amur leopard and Amur tiger numbers, work on antipoaching activities and firefighting. They are also working with Chinese teams.
Phoenix Fund work in education, spreading awareness and outreach, antipoaching and firefighting.
WVI provide support for the wildlife health monitoring project etc.

Slide no. 5
Recently, Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia visited a preserve for Endangered
Persian Leopards at Sochi National Park. He "cuddled" with a leopard called Grom
(Thunder). This was news all over Russia and this should have people think about
how endangered Amur Leopards really are and be motivated to do something
about by visiting the websites of the organizations towards helping Amur
Leopards and contributing.

ECONOMIC JOT NOTES

Slide no. 1
Russia's type of econommy is a more market based and global economy after the
collapse of the soviet union. Due to this, in the early nineties, poaching of Amur
Leopards incresed dramaticaly due to the falling apart of the government and
need for money.
Slide no. 2
Russia has a resource based and arms based industry because it has an
abundance of natural resources including oil, natural gas and precious metals
which increases the amount of forests being destroyed including the Amur
Leopards' homes due to mining and logging which earns a lot of money for the
country through imports and exports and strengthens the economy.
Slide no. 3
Russias natural resources like oil, metals etc make up a major share of Russias
exports increasing the amount of forests being destroyed. The value of Russian
arms and exports totalled $5.7 billion in 2013, which gave Russia a boost in the
Economic industry. Russia's arms industry uses these natural resources making it
capable of producing high tech military equipment. Due to this, some countries
see Russia as a threat whereas others use this to their advantage to buy this
equipment.
Slide no. 4
As of 2013, tax in Russia is payable at the rate of 13% for an individual on most
income and non residents on the other hand have to pay 30%. This is a high tax
rate considering Russias standard of living and that about half of Russias total
population suffer from poverty making them hunt for a living.

Slide no. 5
The most common jobs in Russia are Sales Managers, Accountants, Sales Person,
PC Operator etc and all jobs have a number of vacancies available. Unfortunately
though, since most people in Russia don't have an educaton since they suffer
from poverty, not many people are capable of meeting the jobs basic standards.
This again ties to poverty and the endangering of the Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 6
Russia's middle class wage of $6000 was actually, by Russian standards, not
solidly middle class but extremely well-off. An income of $6,000 a month is
arguably more than middle class in America a country which is obviously a lot
wealthier than Russia. If Russia were to offer more kids education and reduce the
middle class wages and increase the lower class wages, Russia would be a much
more healthy country.
Slide no. 7
Russia's poverty line stays at $200 per month on average. With around 55% of
Russia's population suffering from poverty or being paid less than $2 a day, many
people suffering from poverty were ecouraged to take up hunting to bear the
expenses of their family.

SOCIAL JOT NOTES

Slide no. 1
For better living conditions, the country I think people in Russia should move to
would be Alaska to reduce the amount of Amur Leopards killed.
Slide no. 2
Alaska has a better economy offering more jobs for a better life which gives them
a variety of professions to choose from other than hunting like hotel, motel.
Resort and store desk clerks and bus drivers etc.
Slide no. 3
If children or people were denied an education Russia due to poverty, making
them hunt for a living, Alaska has wide open spaces of natural beauty and getting
a hunting license is easier since Alaska is not home to any critically endangered
species like the Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 4
Alaska is located on a peninsula and has some of the best fisheries in North
America which means that fishing can be another option instead of hunting.
Slide no. 5
Since both Russia and Alaska are cold countries because they are situated near
the arctic circle, people from Russia should have no problem adapting to Alaskas
weather conditons.
Slide no. 6
The distance between Alaska and Russia is 2963 miles including rocky, snow
covered landscapes and an ocean. This means you will need to be able to afford a
cruise or an airplane and proper clothes which does not seem like an option
considering the condition of the Russians who suffer poverty.

Slide no. 7
Alaskas requirements to enter the country are as follows:
-You need to be an average middle class family (money wise).
-You need valid passport proof of the country you are a citizen of.
-You will need to pay $112 as Alaskas passport fee per person.
Most Russians who hunt Amur Leopards suffer from poverty and are not
considered an average middle class family and will not be able to pay $112 as
Alaskas fee per person.
Slide no. 8
Russian citizens possessing foreign travel documents or citizenships are not to
enter or leave Russia. Moreover, in order to leave Russia, citizens must send a
request to the government. Certain reasons to why Russia may legally suspend
the citizens right to leave would be:
-People who have had access to classified documents while working for the state
or the military, so their access is granted up to 5 years afterwards.
-Problems with the law like imprisonment etc.
-If the person is subject to conscription (Compulsory agreement).
Russians with a clean background should most probably have no problem
meeting the requirements to leave unless they have been fined for poaching
Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 9
The Russian culture is mainly influenced by the arts like literature, philosophy,
music, painting, ballet and architecture including hunting. Hunting is considered a
way to remember their ancestors traditions. This is a dangerous tradition since it
can influence people to hunt Amur Leopards.

Slide no. 10
Russian families are large including grandparents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters,
nieces and nephews which means it must be very hard to cover the families
expenses which might again lead to poverty and be a danger to Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 11
The most frequent natural disasters occurring in the Primorye Amur Region are
landslides, hurricanes, forest fires and floods creating poor living conditions. For
example, 270 people in the Primorye region evacuated due to flooding recently
leaving them homeless in poverty so they were forced to hunt for food affecting
Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 12
Like Snowy Leopards, these animals also make use of the left over trails of other
Leopards locate their migration route. Nevertheless, Amur Leopards are
permanent residents and travel upwards or downwards to escape the heavy
snow.
Slide no. 13
A few reasons to why people might want to leave Russia would be Pandanemic
Corruption, Poor job opportunities, Rotting infrastructure and rampant crime.
This means that hunting is an ongoing influence which affects Amur Leoards.
Slide no. 14
If people were to migrate from Russia, they would definitely need money because
their be to go to Alaska and they would need to qualify for VISA since all the other
countries surrounding Russia like China, Ukraine, Mangolia etc. all are developing
countries just like Russia which means there arent much opportunities to
improve their living condition and save the Amur Leopards.
Slide no. 15
Recent studies show that the rich in Russia are getting richer and the poor are
staying the same despite the poor living conditions which means that the poor
clearly have no opportunities to improve their living conditions to save the
Leopards.