Most Endangered Big Cat Rebounds Thanks to Conservation Efforts

Considered the most endangered of all big cat subspecies, with only eight individuals believed to be living in China in the 1990s, the Amur tiger population is finally on the rise, thanks to conservation efforts by the Russian and Chinese governments. 

The population of Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, now stands at around 55 in northeastern China alone. The growing population is due largely to the Natural Forest Protection Project, a Chinese national policy that halted the timber industry and forced human workers out of natural forests, shifting China toward better environmental and wildlife protection. Further, in 2001, the Chinese government established three nature reserves, one of which now represents the largest tiger refuge in the world. 

“China is working hard to turn this [national park] into a model for conservation in China,” says Miquelle, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society Russia, adding that “National leaders of both Russia and China have demonstrated a sincere interest in Amur tiger conservation, providing a strong foundation for their recovery.” 

Recent studies show that, should additional conservation efforts be made, the population of Amur tigers in northeastern China could reach 310 individuals, allowing a viable future for this species that was once thought to be on the verge of extinction.