IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Nikolaeva, E.I. (ed) | |
| A monitoring program for the Amur tiger - Twelve-year report: 1998-2009 | |
| 2009 Full Book | |
Evidence from 12 years of the Amur Tiger Monitoring Program suggests that both key prey species and tiger numbers themselves are declining in the Russian Far East. There is strong evidence that both red deer and roe deer are declining across many of the 16 monitoring sites. Both species appeared to increase during the early years of the monitoring program, and then beginning in 2001 to 2003, populations of prey began to decrease. Evidence for declines in wild boar populations is not as strong, but numbers appear to have dropped in many sites. Even sika deer, which are believed to be expanding across southern Russian Far East, are declining in half of the monitoring sites. Both indicators of tiger abundance - track densities and expert assessments of tiger numbers, suggest that tiger numbers are decreasing across the Russian Far East. Tiger track densities in 2008 and 2009 were the lowest reported in the Amur Tiger Monitoring Program. In 2009, the total number of tigers reported on monitoring sites was only 56 individuals, which represents a 41% decline from the 12-year average (95.2 individuals). Deep snows in some parts of tiger range no doubt reduced movements of tigers, decreasing the chances of detecting many individuals. However, deep snows were not a factor in most monitoring sites, which nonetheless are reporting decreases in tiger numbers. While the exact magnitude is difficult to define, the overall results indicate that significant declines are underway: In 11 of 15 sites (73%) red deer numbers appear to be in decline; In 12 of 16 sites (75%) roe deer numbers appear to be in decline; In 8 of 16 sites (50%) wild boar numbers appear to be in decline; In 4 of 8 sites (50%) where sika deer occur, numbers appear to be in decline; In 13 of 16 sites (81%) tiger track densities indicate tigers are in decline In 13 of 16 sites (81%) tiger numbers, based on expert assessments, are in decline. Any one of these indicators is subject to debate as to their accuracy, but collectively they provide powerful evidence that the situation for tigers and their prey is deteriorating in the Russian Far East. We provide a list of recommendations that represent the key steps to recovering tigers and their prey in the Russian Federation. These recommendations have been reviewed and agreed upon by Russian scientists and non-governmental agencies. We are hopeful that these recommendations can provide a basis for action to reverse the alarming trends in tiger numbers in the Russian Far East. |
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