Southwestern Primorsky Krai (Southwest Primorye)
is part of the Changbaishan (or East Manchurian) Mountain Ecosystem.
Although this thin sliver of Russia represents only a small portion of
the Changbaishan ecosytem, this region is home to 10-14 tigers and the
last 30 Far Eastern leopards remaining in the wild. The Russian tiger
population in this region is isolated from the main population of Amur
tigers living further north in the Sikhote-Alin Mountains, but it
represents the “source” for recovery of tigers in Northeast China.
Therefore conservation efforts must focus on both sides of the border
for success.
In 2006 WCS Russia initiated an intensive research
program designed to assess the potential health threats to small
populations, such as inbreeding depression, and to better understand the
ecology of tigers in SW Primorye. Our work is aimed at defining minimum
requirements for survival of this population. Genetic analyses have
demonstrated that tigers in SW Primorye are already distinguishable from
the main population of Amur tigers, signaling the need for increased
efforts to secure an ecological corridor between the Russia-China
boundary area and the Sikhote-Alin Ecosystem.
Additionally, WCS is
working to improve effectiveness of law enforcement efforts on the
Russian side of the border through support of anti-poaching efforts. We
are sponsoring implementation of a single monitoring system that will
allow information sharing information between various responsible
governmental bodies.
Successful recovery of tigers in Northeast
China will require long-term commitments to work on both sides of the
China-Russia border, and to improve information exchange and
coordination between nations. Thus, WCS has already sponsored several
joint workshops, and will continue to provide regular exchange
opportunities.