Is There a Future for Amur tigers in a restored tiger conservation landscape in Northeast

China?

Introduction:

The Panthera Tigris, the scientific name for Tiger, can be found in the continent of Asia.

Their population numbers throughout the world has dropped drastically to around 3,200 tigers.

This happened due to several factors; poachers hunt them and the prey that these tigers prefer,

and their habitats are being destroyed due to the ever-expanding human population. Many World

Leaders and Governments are worried about the problems that rise with the extinction of certain

species. Which has led to the involvement of scientists who wish to bring the tiger species back

from near extinction. The goal set in 2010 by the Global Tiger Initiative is to double the tiger

population by 2022.

To achieve this very challenging goal, scientists need to develop some large-scale Tiger

Conservation Landscapes, abbreviated as TCLs. TCLs are areas of habitation that have been

deemed worthy for certain species to live. With this study, scientists are specifically trying to

increase the Amur Tiger species, also known as the Siberian Tiger, that lives in areas of

Northeast China and Southern areas of Russia. Their plan is to study areas that have sufficient

prey density, biophysical and landcover resources, and show low death rate from human causes.

Another reason for restoring this species, these scientists want to prove that this type of

study will bring back this species and others in similar situations. This type of study takes

elements from other types of modeling, and puts them together. They want others to use their

format, but develop it for the needs of others. This reason is not a main priority for these

scientists, restoring the Amur tigers is more important in this case.

Materials and Methods:

Their area of study is a large 218,785 km2 portion of Northeast China, and Southern areas

of Russia. They mainly focused on mountain ecosystems, with similar elevations. The climate in

these areas are considered temperate, with an average rainfall of 519 to 1336 mm and an average

snowfall of about 20 to 50 cm. The average temperature ranges from -19C to 21C. There is a

large amount of landcover and other types of vegetation in these areas as well. These areas have

about 445 cities/towns nearby that house approximately 12.7 million people. The diet of Amur

Tigers includes: red deer, wild boar, sika deer, and Siberian roe deer.

The scientists used a simple ensemble habitat modeling approach; this approach uses the

average data collected from three different habitat models to ensure consistency and remove

uncertainty. Each habitat model was run by different stakeholders, which included: the Chinese

Government, World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and the Wildlife Conservation Society

(WCS). By using the average data collected, this insured that each stakeholder would try to

increase their accuracy in the data.

The southern Primorye Krai portion of the study area was divided into 486 sampling

units averaging 131 km2. Within each sampling unit, an average of 89 km of transects (totaling

11,473 km) were surveyed by vehicle, snowmobile or on foot/skis. (M. Hebblewhite, 2012)

This was how they found and located the tracks of these tigers. They also used density

algorithms and estimations. They used Geographic Information System (GIS) landscape

variables to help with the estimations of the tiger habitats. The use of the Moderate Resolution

Imagine Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite showed the areas covered by snow. Human use

data showed the human settlements that included towns, roads, traffic patterns on certain roads,
and other similar data. They used the data collected and other previously collected data to

estimate the optimal tiger conservation areas.

Results:

From the information gathered from the areas of study, they could find the optimal areas

for the conservation landscapes. Factors that were included; enough distance away from humans

and their man-made areas, areas that had enough rain and snowfall, areas with enough land

cover, and enough prey for the tigers. However, they concluded that Amur tigers were not

entirely reliant on the type of environment that their study deduced. The three areas of study

correlated with each other, but not enough to suggest the use of only one.

From the cost to distance analysis of the areas, they identified nine optimal Tiger

Conservation Areas in both China and Russia. These nine areas provided a proper base for other

TCLs spread throughout the world. Using the results, they started to reintroduce the Amur tigers

back into the wild. They did not release captive animals, or animals that would not survive in the

wild. They can also keep better watch in these areas for stopping potential poachers, and watch

the population of the tigers.

Discussion:

The results of this study and the reintroduction of the animals, had a pretty significant

impact. Scientifically, they have a better model for establishing conservation landscapes for a

wide range of species. As well as, gaining a better way to monitor animal populations and the

poachers that desire them. Politically, the governments that want to increase the populations of

animals, now have a better chance of being successful. As well as, they are now better at not

encroaching on animal areas. There are a few limitations to this type of study though: Others
must rely on their own data and studies, it is more towards small population species, they are

more focused on the species and less on their prey, and it relies heavily on cooperation with

others and technology to do the study.

Citations:

M. Hebblewhite, F. Z. (2012). Is There a future for Amur tigers in a restored tiger conservation

landscape in Northeast China? 14.

Reflective Writing:

I acquired substantive knowledge from this process due to the information that was

provided by the paper that I studied. It opened my eyes to the problems that we can face in this

world, as well as gave me an idea on who is involved with certain issues. I also learned much

about the process that comes along with this type of study.

It helped me communicate more effectively, because summarizing without restating the

original words can be very challenging. I had to think of other ways to describe the information

that was discussed. I tried to make the information simple, while still being true to the original

study.

The study also made me think critically. There was a lot of detailed information that the

scientists discovered. I had to follow along with their train of thought, while still understanding

what they are trying to tell me. Because of this, I find myself considering things more than I used

to.