Amur tiger. Lifestyle and habitat of the Amur tiger. Program for studying the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East Studying the Amur tiger in the Ussuri Nature Reserve

Amur tiger- most rare representative peace. Even in the mid-19th century, their population was large, but by the end of this century, approximately 100 individuals were killed every year.

It was thanks to this that already around the 30s of the 20th century the Amur was on the verge of complete extinction from planet Earth. At that time, there were less than 50 left on the territory of the USSR.

There are several main reasons for this phenomenon:

• Destruction of forests and bushes where the Amur people lived;
• Reducing the number of main food items;
• Direct extermination of individuals by poachers.

One of the most large predators planets - Amur tiger. Red Book already for for long years protects individuals of this species. However, in April 2007, according to experts from the World Fund wildlife, the Amur population has reached the same number as a hundred years ago. In this regard, on this moment The tiger is not on the verge of extinction.

In 2008 - 2009, a complex expedition took place within the framework of the Amur program, as a result of which it was determined that in the territory Ussuri Nature Reserve managed to count 6 representatives of this species. It also turned out that animal Amur tiger uses for its residence an area that is more than twice the area of ​​the entire reserve.

The Amur tiger has a beautiful skin color characteristic of a predator: on a red background there are transverse dark stripes. There is an opinion that it is impossible to meet at least two individuals with the same pattern, because they are all unique. This color, although bright, serves a camouflage function.

Due to its size, the tiger does not have stamina. To catch prey, he has to sneak up to it as close as possible, which is helped by the color, which merges with the dry one.

Look photo Amur tiger , and you will see for yourself. On average, these tigers live about 15 years. Although the maximum lifespan is half a century, tigers, as a rule, die before their old age.

Predators feed only on animal food, most often large-sized prey. They devote a significant part of their time to hunting, but only a tenth of attempts to capture prey are successful.

The animals live in the southeast, on the banks of the Amur and Ussuri, in Manchuria, and the north of the DPRK. It can be found in the Primorsky Territory and in the east Khabarovsk Territory. Their range from the north is approximately a thousand kilometers, and from west to east – approximately 700 km. Tigers are especially common in the Lazovsky district of Primorsky Krai.

Amur tigers choose river mountain valleys as their habitats, with a predominance of tree species such as oak and cedar. Any adult individual lives independently on a personal territory, which can be up to 450 square kilometers for females and up to 2 thousand square kilometers for males.

The program for studying the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East is an independent project within the framework of the permanent expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences to study animals from the Red Book Russian Federation and other particularly important animals of the fauna of Russia, which was created in 2008 on the basis of the institution. The scientific leader of the expedition is Academician Dmitry Sergeevich Pavlov, Director of the Institute of Economics and Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences; the head of the expedition is doctor biological sciences Vyacheslav Vladimirovich Rozhnov, deputy. Director of IPEE RAS.

The Amur Tiger Program aims to develop a scientific basis for the conservation of the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East. The main objective of the program is to study the spatial structure of the Amur tiger population, the movements and numbers of these cats in Russia, and the nature of their use of space. In addition, scientists are studying the reproductive biology of the species, habitat characteristics, feeding habits and food resources, as well as the distribution and population dynamics of the tiger's main prey species, and relationships with other competing predators.

To clarify the adaptive capabilities of the species in modern changing environmental conditions, it is necessary to: study the structure of its habitat and assess the long-term dynamics of forest ecosystems of the Russian Far East, habitat modeling using GIS technologies to predict the distribution of the Amur tiger. An important component of the program is the study of the structural and functional organization of populations of the main prey species of the Amur tiger - ungulates (wild boar, roe deer, wapiti, sika deer) and populations of its main competitors - brown and Himalayan bears, wolf, as well as the specifics and consequences of interpopulation interactions between the two large species felines - tiger and Far Eastern leopard.

The issue of creating a state government is also being considered. information center, which should contain information about the state of tiger populations in particular and rare animal species in general. The existing method of counting the number of tigers requires adjustment.

In addition to purely scientific goals, the Amur Tiger program provides for the solution of popular scientific, educational and social tasks. The goal of the program is not only to draw attention to the problem of protecting rare and common animal species in Russia, such as the Amur tiger, snow leopard, Far Eastern leopard, beluga whale, but also to tell the widest range of local residents of the regions about the ecology and behavior of these animals.

In March 2009, as part of the international scientific-practical conference“The Amur Tiger in Northeast Asia: Conservation Problems in the 21st Century” was adopted new edition“Strategies for the conservation of the Amur tiger in Russia,” prepared by a specially created working group of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources.

Tiger Research Devices

Camera traps

Camera traps (models from LifRiver and Reconix companies are used) are unique remote surveillance cameras. They are installed at certain intervals in the taiga along the possible routes of the tiger.

Each tiger has its own pattern on its skin, just like a person has fingerprints. Each camera trap has a special flash card installed. Based on the data obtained (a kind of fingerprinting), scientists compose individual cards for every tiger living in this place.

Camera traps are installed in such a way that they photograph the animal simultaneously from both sides - this is the only way to create an individual portrait of each predator.

Special hinges

To catch tigers, scientists use special snares produced by the Canadian-American company Margo Supplies LTD. To attract a tiger, a special mark is left on the tree under which the device is installed. Like all cats, the tiger follows the scent of valerian. The trap is carefully camouflaged so that the animal does not suspect anything.

It is very important that the tiger gets into the trap with its front paw. Then he won't have room to jump. There is a known case where a tiger fell into a trap with its hind paw and broke it while trying to free itself.

When an animal gets caught in a loop, the transmitter, which is connected to the loop with a special fishing line, changes the signal.

The tiger is a very smart animal. He is cunning and subtly senses danger. So a tiger caught in a trap - great luck for the researcher.

Pneumatic devices for immobilizing tigers

To immobilize tigers caught in snares for the purpose of their subsequent examination, pneumatic guns with optical sight from Dan-inject. The gas pressure is adjusted using a special pressure gauge depending on the distance of the shot. This is a special carbine for shooting syringes. With its help you can shoot at an animal from a distance of up to 40 m.

As a drug for immobilization, Zoletil and Medetomidine are used, currently used to immobilize all large predators, including the tiger. The dose of the drug depends on the weight of the animals. The animal can remain asleep for 30 to 40 minutes. All procedures for immobilization and veterinary examination of tigers are carried out by veterinary specialists. The chief takes part in the work veterinarian Moscow Zoo M.V. Alshinetsky.

All captured animals undergo an ultrasound and blood tests are taken, after which a satellite collar is placed on their neck.

Satellite collars

After the tiger is caught in the snare, it will be fitted with collars equipped with satellite GPS navigators and Sirtrack transmitters ( New Zealand), Lotec (Canada) and Telonics (USA), as well as Russian system GLONASS. Information about the location of the animal will be sent to the scientists’ computer in real time. The tiger quickly gets used to the light-weight transmitter. The collar's battery lasts for about a year and a half, after which it automatically detaches.

Molecular genetic methods for studying tigers

Large scale comprehensive research has not yet been carried out using molecular genetic methods. This method is based on the analysis of microsatellite regions of nuclear DNA (blood and excrement are used). The structure of these DNA fragments is individual for each animal. The microsatellite parts of DNA used for individual identification have different quantities di-, tri-, tetranucleotide repeats and, as a result, different lengths.

Study of the Amur tiger in the Ussuri Nature Reserve

From each of the captured predators, scientists take samples of blood, hair and excrement to conduct molecular genetic and hormonal studies. In addition, all animals are marked with ear tags and GPS-Argos collars are placed on them.

On August 31, 2008, during V.V. Putin’s visit to the Ussuri Nature Reserve, a tigress was caught. After they put a satellite collar on the predator, she was released. However, in November the tigress was caught in a snare again. Scientists decided to give her the name Earring: the fact is that the syringe with sleeping pills got into her in such a way that in the photo it later looked like an earring in her ear.

On October 20, 2009, the tigress Serga was captured again. They took off her collar, which had worked for exactly a year, and put a new one in its place. It turned out that the cubs had chewed off the transmitting satellite antenna from her old collar, which is why scientists could only track her using a VHF transmitter. The tigress was measured again, biological samples were taken from her, and the collar was replaced with a new one with fresh batteries.

From the old collar we were able to obtain all the data on Earring’s adventures throughout the year - these are 1222 locations, 16,500 activity measurements, 6 full daily movements. The data downloaded from the collar made it possible to obtain detailed information about the movements of the tigress over the past year. The animal's habitat was almost 900 square meters. km, and only 56% of the locations were within the Ussuri Nature Reserve, the rest were outside its borders. The tigress actively used, among other things, territories in the immediate vicinity of settlements- the villages of Kamenushka and Mnogoudnoe.

On October 26, 2009, another tiger was caught in the Ussuri Nature Reserve, which was named Boxer. He was about a year and a half old and weighed 120 kg. Scientists have suggested that this is Serga’s son, one of her three tiger cubs. Subsequent genetic research the Institute’s laboratory confirmed this version: Boxer really turned out to be Serga’s son.

In the spring of 2009, a one-and-a-half-year-old tiger cub, left orphaned after the death of the tigress, was captured in the reserve. They gave him the nickname Oleg. Captured in a weakened state, the tiger cub was released into the wild on September 16, 2009, after rehabilitation in captivity. This is the world's first such experiment to return the tiger to the wild.

This tiger cub, which weighed 60 kg, was transported for rehabilitation at the end of May 2009, kept in a large enclosure, which was a fenced area of ​​​​the forest, and had the opportunity to regularly hunt sika deer, training its hunting habits. By mid-September, the animal had replaced its milk teeth with permanent ones, its body weight had reached 90 kg, and it had learned to hunt ungulates effectively.

Today, a whole group of tigers is already under the supervision of scientists with satellite collars different ages. A database has been created that contains the results of using camera traps for photo-identification of tigers, the results of molecular genetic and hormonal analysis, as well as encounters with traces of tigers.

The program for studying the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East is being implemented as an independent project within the framework of the Permanent Expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the study of animals from the Red Book of the Russian Federation and other especially important animals of the fauna of Russia, created and included in the Institute of Ecological Economy of the Russian Academy of Sciences on the basis of the Order of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences dated February 29 2008 No. 12300-128

Purpose of the program- development of scientific foundations for the conservation of the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East.

Objectives of the Program:

1. Studying spatial structure of the Amur tiger population, movements and the nature of his use of space.
2. Studying reproductive biology Amur tiger.
3. Zoological and veterinary examination Amur tigers from the natural population.
4. Study of interpopulation interactions of the tiger with other species of predatory mammals.
5. Studying nutrition, food resources, distribution and population dynamics of the main tiger prey species.
6. Preparation of a new edition of the Strategy for the Conservation of the Amur Tiger in Russia, development of recommendations for monitoring the Amur tiger population and its conservation.

Tiger (Panthera tigris)- belongs to the genus of large cats. This cat is very large in size: body weight of males up to 320 kg, females up to 180 kg, body length of males up to 290 cm, females up to 190-200 cm, tail length of males 115 cm, females up to 110 cm.

The Amur tiger - the largest and most beautiful subspecies of the tiger - lives in the Primorsky and Khabarovsk territories, Amur region. Included in the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The population size, according to the latest data obtained in 2005, is estimated at 400-500 individuals. Favorite habitats are low mountains, river valleys, paddocks, overgrown with Manchurian-type vegetation with a predominance of cedar and oak. The basis of nutrition is large and small ungulates. The tiger leads a solitary lifestyle in an area of ​​up to 1000 square meters. kilometers or more. The size of the habitat and its structure can be influenced by a number of factors, such as: depth snow cover, population density of the prey (the presence of herds of ungulates - wild boar, roe deer, wapiti, sika deer), anthropogenic impacts (deforestation, poaching, the presence of roads, hunting for ungulates).

Currently, the Amur tiger population exists in conditions acute shortage suitable habitats and adequate amounts of food - wild ungulates. This causes an increase in the mobility of individual individuals and the appearance of a tiger outside its current area of ​​distribution.

To clarify the adaptive capabilities of the species in modern changing environmental conditions, it is necessary to study the structure of its habitats and assess the long-term dynamics of forest ecosystems of the Russian Far East, modeling habitats using GIS technologies to predict the distribution of the Amur tiger. An important component of the program is the study of the structural and functional organization of populations of the main species of prey of the Amur tiger - ungulates (wild boar, roe deer, wapiti, sika deer) and populations of its main competitors - brown and Himalayan bears, wolves, as well as the specifics and consequences of interpopulation interactions of two large cat species - tiger and Far Eastern leopard.

A pressing issue is the creation of a state information center, which should contain information about the state of tiger populations in particular and rare animal species in general. The method of counting the number of tigers also requires adjustment.

02/03/2012 | Vladimir Putin's programs to save rare animals

In 2008, work began on several programs related to the study of rare and especially important animals in Russia. All programs are implemented with the support of the Chairman of the Russian Government Vladimir Putin. At Russian Academy Sciences, a permanent expedition of the Russian Academy of Sciences was created to study animals from the Red Book of the Russian Federation and other especially important animals of the fauna of Russia. Almost all species of animals studied by this expedition are listed not only in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, but also in the International IUCN Red List.

The programs provide for educational work among local population. It is important not only to draw attention to the problem of protecting rare and common animal species in Russia, such as the Amur tiger, snow leopard, Far Eastern leopard, White whale(beluga whale), but also to tell the widest layers of local residents of the regions about the ecology and behavior of these animals.

Amur tiger study program in the Russian Far East

Amur Tiger Program Its goal is to develop a scientific basis for the conservation of the Amur tiger in the Russian Far East. The main objective of the program is to study the spatial structure of the Amur tiger population, the movements and numbers of these cats in Russia, and the nature of their use of space. In addition, scientists are studying the reproductive biology of the species, habitat characteristics, feeding habits and food resources, as well as the distribution and population dynamics of the tiger's main prey species, and relationships with other competing predators.

The program includes studying the structure of tiger habitats, assessing the long-term dynamics of forest ecosystems in the Russian Far East, and modeling habitats using GIS technologies to predict the distribution of the Amur tiger. An important component of the program is the study of the structural and functional organization of populations of the main prey species of the Amur tiger - ungulates (wild boar, roe deer, wapiti, sika deer) and populations of its main competitors - brown and Himalayan bears, wolves, as well as the specifics and consequences of interpopulation interactions of the two large cat species - tiger and Far Eastern leopard.

The work uses such devices for researching tigers as camera traps, special loops for catching tigers, pneumatic guns with an optical sight to immobilize tigers, and satellite collars. Molecular genetic methods are being carried out to study tigers.

On August 31, 2008, during V.V. Putin’s visit to the Ussuri Nature Reserve, a tigress was caught. After they put a satellite collar on the predator, she was released. However, in November the tigress was caught in a snare again. Scientists decided to give her the name Earring: the fact is that the syringe with sleeping pills got into her in such a way that in the photo it later looked like an earring in her ear.

On October 20, 2009, the tigress Serga was captured again. They took off her collar, which had worked for exactly a year, and put a new one in its place. It turned out that the cubs had chewed off the transmitting satellite antenna from her old collar, which is why scientists could only track her using a VHF transmitter. The tigress was measured again, biological samples were taken from her, and the collar was replaced with a new one with fresh batteries.

From the old collar we were able to obtain all the data about Earring’s adventures throughout the year - these are 1222 locations, 16,500 activity measurements, 6 full daily movements. Data downloaded from the collar made it possible to obtain detailed information about the tigress’s movements over the past year. The animal's habitat was almost 900 square meters. km, and only 56% of the locations were within the Ussuri Nature Reserve, the rest were outside its borders. The tigress also actively used territories in the immediate vicinity of populated areas - the villages of Kamenushka and Mnogoudnoe.

On October 26, 2009, another tiger was caught in the Ussuri Nature Reserve, which was named Boxer. Scientists have suggested that it is. Subsequent genetic studies in the Institute's laboratory confirmed that this is Serga's son, one of her three tiger cubs.

In the spring of 2009, a one-and-a-half-year-old tiger cub, left orphaned after the death of the tigress, was captured in the reserve. They gave him the nickname Oleg. Captured in a weakened state, the tiger cub was released into the wild on September 16, 2009, after rehabilitation in captivity. This is the world's first such experiment to return the tiger to the wild.

Beluga-White Whale Program

Beluga-White Whale Program aims to study the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas). The beluga whale is not endangered or rare species, but is a recognized indicator species of the state of Arctic marine ecosystems. The objective of the program is primarily to study the distribution, seasonal migrations and abundance of beluga whales in Russian seas, as well as to clarify the current status of its various populations throughout the Russian range, study the characteristics of the habitat, nutrition, and relationships with other species. For this purpose, scientists from the Institute of Economics and Economics of the Russian Academy of Sciences use the most modern methods: satellite tagging (telemetry), aerial surveillance, veterinary and genetic research. Traditional methods of coastal visual observations are also used.

Summer 2009 V.V. Putin took personal control of the Belukha-White Whale program, the main task of which is to study the seasonal migrations and abundance of beluga whales in Russian seas. The transmitter installed by V.V. Putin has stopped working, but the study of beluga whales continues.

In July-August 2009, satellite transmitters were installed on 3 in the area of ​​Chkalov Island. They transmit data on the movement of beluga whales via the ARGOS satellite system. The transmitters had to follow the movement of animals for six to nine months and determine not only the route of their movement, but also give a lot of new information about their relationships with each other and between individuals from other populations Sea of ​​Okhotsk.

The aerial observation program was carried out over 40 days from late July to mid-September 2009. Conducted animal counts large group zoologists. For the first time, the AN-38 Vostok laboratory aircraft, equipped with last word equipment specifically for monitoring marine mammals. For the first time in quite a while short term Almost the entire coast of the Sea of ​​Okhotsk has been surveyed, with the exception of Kuril Islands. The main places of concentration of beluga whales, seals and whales during this period have been identified.

Snow leopard study program ( snow leopard) in southern Siberia

Program "Irbis - snow leopard" was started in 2010 and is designed for 5 years. In the Red Book of the Russian Federation, the snow leopard is assigned category 1 - a species “threatened with extinction at the limit of its range.” The number of snow leopards in the Russian part of their range is about 50 animals. The main goals of the program are to study the state of populations throughout the snow leopard's range in Russia, identify key reproductive nuclei and groups, and develop the scientific basis for the long-term conservation of the snow leopard (snow leopard) in southern Siberia in Russia. Scientists are studying the spatial structure of the snow leopard population, the movements and numbers of these cats in Russia; developing methods for counting snow leopards; are studying the reproductive biology of the species, habitat characteristics, feeding habits, distribution and population dynamics of the main prey species, relationships with other competitive predators, and are also working on a strategy for the conservation of the snow leopard in Russia and the preparation of recommendations for its conservation.

One of the most important tasks of the project is educational program for the local population, students and schoolchildren, increasing knowledge about native nature local residents. Program participants actively cooperate with the local press, telling journalists about the features and habits of this amazing beast. The Khakass branch of the Russian Geographical Society, formed in the fall of 2010, provides assistance to scientists in order to ensure their work in the Khakassky Nature Reserve, the Pozarym Nature Reserve being created, and in other specially protected areas of the region.

In their work, scientists use camera traps, satellite collars, as well as molecular genetic, hormonal, non-invasive research methods

In the future, scientists plan to work throughout the Russian part of the snow leopard’s range. There are also plans to coordinate activities to estimate the abundance and study the biology of the species with the scientific communities of the countries of the Altai-Sayan region (Mongolia, China, Kazakhstan), where similar research is being conducted.

Polar Bear Research Program in the Arctic

In April 2010, a comprehensive expedition of the Institute of Economics and Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences took place under the Polar Bear Program within the framework of the Russian Grant Geographical Society to the Arctic archipelago of Franz Josef Land. The purpose of the Program is to study, preserve and restore the population polar bear in the Russian Arctic.

Currently, the main threatening factors for the polar bear are: industrial development of the Arctic, pollution and destruction of habitats, direct destruction - poaching. The factor limiting the movements of the polar bear is the seasonal condition sea ​​ice. One of the main objectives of the expedition was to test the method and technology of organizing work on satellite tagging in the remote Arctic territory of the State natural reserve"Franz Josef Land".

In unfavorable weather conditions, at strong wind and frost below -20°C, for almost a month of work, scientists managed to catch and immobilize 4 male polar bears. Two of them were wearing Russian-made satellite collars, which continue to work at the moment, although the first tagged bear dropped the collar.

Vladimir Putin, together with scientists, put a satellite collar on a bear caught in a special trap

In August 2008, V.V. Putin, together with specialists from the Kronotsky Nature Reserve in Kamchatka, took part in a scientific expedition to study the gray whale. V.V. Putin shot a whale with a crossbow with a special arrow in order to take a piece of gray whale skin for analysis. In May 2010, the head of the Government released Sochinsky from his cage into the enclosure. national park one of two female leopards brought from Iran.

Recently, at a meeting with Tomsk students, Vladimir Putin said that he considers it necessary to introduce additional economic mechanisms to protect the environment. On the eve of the presidential elections in the Russian Federation, it is worth recalling that the only chance to preserve the wildlife of Russia is to continue working to preserve and improve the environmental situation in the country, create conditions for stopping poaching and reasonable approach for use natural resources country, including hunting.

It can be confidently assumed that without the support of Vladimir Putin, programs to support, study and preserve rare and especially important animals in Russia will lose funding and cease. Therefore, by electing Putin as President of the Russian Federation, every person interested in further development and prosperity of Russia, will make the right choice.