Matthew Hamilton Siberian Tiger Endangerment | Generic

Eveready 07/05/10

Siberian Tiger Endangerment | Generic

Table of Contents
1. Inherency................................................................................................................................................1
1.1 40 Percent Population Drop............................................................................................................1
1.2 Scientists and NGOs Recommending Fixes....................................................................................2
1.3 Russia to Raise up to $1 Billion to Conserve Tiger Species...........................................................2
1.4 Overall Picture is Positive According to WCS-Asia Director.........................................................2
2. Causes....................................................................................................................................................2
A. Poaching & Enforcement......................................................................................................................2
2.1 Decline Due to Poaching and Lack of Enforcement.......................................................................2
B. Disease...................................................................................................................................................3
3.1 A Disease Recently Started Occuring Within Amur Populations....................................................3
3.2 Affects Ability to Hunt...................................................................................................................3
3.3 Behavioral Changes.........................................................................................................................3
3.4 Poaching + Disease = Very Bad Situation.......................................................................................4
4. Other.......................................................................................................................................................4
4.1 Results From WCS Study................................................................................................................4
4.2 Recovery Possible if Immediate Action is Taken............................................................................5
5. Credentials/Info......................................................................................................................................5

1. Inherency

1.1 40 Percent Population Drop

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

Scientists are calling the latest count of Siberian tigers a wake-up call that the world could do better to
protect these persecuted cats. A recent report by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) revealed that
the last remaining population of Siberian tigers has likely declined significantly due to the rising tide of
poaching and habitat loss.
The report documented a 40 percent drop in tiger numbers at key monitoring sites, taken from a 12-
year average. The study’s authors say the decline is due primarily to increased poaching of both tigers
and their prey in the region, coupled with a series of reforms in Russia that reduced the number of
enforcement personnel in key tiger areas. The report was released by the Siberian Tiger Monitoring
Program, which WCS coordinates in association with Russian governmental and non-governmental
organizations.

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1.2 Scientists and NGOs Recommending Fixes

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

Russian scientists and non-government organizations are recommending changes in law enforcement
regulations, improvements in habitat protection, and a strengthening of the protected areas network to
reverse the downward trend.

1.3 Russia to Raise up to $1 Billion to Conserve Tiger Species

John Platt[writer for Scientific American], Scientific American[the oldest continuously published
magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers unique insights about developments in science and
technology for more than 160 years. - Taken from the “About Scientific American” page], December
11, 2009, “Survey finds dramatic drop in Siberian tiger populations”,
[Brackets added]

This news comes just a few weeks after Russia announced a plan to raise up to $1 billion(through as-
yet-undetermined means) to support conservation of all tiger species. The plan, detailed on November
11[2009] by the Russian Federation's natural resource ministry and the local branch of the World
Wildlife Fund, aims to more than double the world's total tiger population from 3,200 to 6,500.

1.4 Overall Picture is Positive According to WCS-Asia Director

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

“While the results are indeed bad news in the short term, we believe the overall picture for Siberian
tigers remains positive,” said Colin Poole, director of WCS-Asia. “There is an enormous amount of
good will for saving Siberian tigers. We just need to translate this into action.”

2. Causes

A. Poaching & Enforcement

2.1 Decline Due to Poaching and Lack of Enforcement

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife

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Matthew Hamilton Siberian Tiger Endangerment | Generic
Eveready 07/05/10

parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

The report documented a 40 percent drop in tiger numbers at key monitoring sites, taken from a 12-
year average. The study’s authors say the decline is due primarily to increased poaching of both tigers
and their prey in the region, coupled with a series of reforms in Russia that reduced the number of
enforcement personnel in key tiger areas. The report was released by the Siberian Tiger Monitoring
Program, which WCS coordinates in association with Russian governmental and non-governmental
organizations.

B. Disease

3.1 A Disease Recently Started Occuring Within Amur Populations

John Platt[writer for Scientific American], Scientific American[the oldest continuously published
magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers unique insights about developments in science and
technology for more than 160 years. - Taken from the “About Scientific American” page], June 25,
2010 , “Tiger, tiger, burning out: What is killing Russia's critically endangered Amur tigers?”,
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=tiger-tiger-burning-out-what-is-kil-2010-06-25

It may not be long before we witness the extinction of one of the world's six species of tigers, the Amur
(or Siberian) tiger (Panthera tigris altaica). As we have previously reported, Amur tiger populations
havedropped precipitously in recent years to around 250 animals, and the species faces a genetic
bottleneck that puts it at risk of inbreeding. Now, a mysterious illness has started spreading through the
Amur population, causing the death of four adult tigers and several newborns in the past 10 months.

3.2 Affects Ability to Hunt

John Platt[writer for Scientific American], Scientific American[the oldest continuously published
magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers unique insights about developments in science and
technology for more than 160 years. - Taken from the “About Scientific American” page], June 25,
2010 , “Tiger, tiger, burning out: What is killing Russia's critically endangered Amur tigers?”,
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=tiger-tiger-burning-out-what-is-kil-2010-06-25

The as-yet-unidentified disease seems to affect tigers' ability to hunt wild game. Left in a weakened and
hungry state, the four infected tigers had started coming into human territory in search of easy food.
They had to be shot as potential threats to people.

3.3 Behavioral Changes

John Platt[writer for Scientific American], Scientific American[the oldest continuously published
magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers unique insights about developments in science and
technology for more than 160 years. - Taken from the “About Scientific American” page], June 25,

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Matthew Hamilton Siberian Tiger Endangerment | Generic
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2010 , “Tiger, tiger, burning out: What is killing Russia's critically endangered Amur tigers?”,
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=tiger-tiger-burning-out-what-is-kil-2010-06-25
[Brackets added]

These may not be the only tigers affected. "We are extremely concerned about the possibility of an
epidemic that could be sweeping through this region," [Dale]Miquelle[, director for the Wildlife
Conservation Society (WCS) Russia Program] said. "Animals we have studied extensively, and known
well, have demonstrated radically changed behavior, which is extremely disconcerting."

3.4 Poaching + Disease = Very Bad Situation

John Platt[writer for Scientific American], Scientific American[the oldest continuously published
magazine in the U.S., has been bringing its readers unique insights about developments in science and
technology for more than 160 years. - Taken from the “About Scientific American” page], June 25,
2010 , “Tiger, tiger, burning out: What is killing Russia's critically endangered Amur tigers?”,
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=tiger-tiger-burning-out-what-is-kil-2010-06-25
[Brackets added]

Already facing major danger from poachers, who kill an estimated 30 to 50 Amur tigers a year, this
disease represents a threat the tigers may not be able to survive. "The addition of disease-related deaths
to existing sources of mortality could push this population over a tipping point," [Dale]Miquelle[,
director for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Russia Program] told the Guardian.

4. Other

4.1 Results From WCS Study

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

Annual tiger surveys are conducted at 16 monitoring sites scattered across tiger range, and serve as an
early warning system to detect changes in the population. The monitoring area, which covers 9,000
square miles, represents 15–18 percent of existing tiger habitat in Russia. Only 56 tigers were counted
at these monitoring sites. Deep snows this past winter may have forced tigers to reduce the amount they
traveled, making them harder to detect, but the report notes a 4-year downward trend in their
population figures.
The total number of Siberian tigers across their entire range was estimated at 500 individuals in 2005.
That count was hailed as a significant recovery for the population, since a count in the late 1940s tallied
fewer than 30 animals.

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4.2 Recovery Possible if Immediate Action is Taken

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

Dr. Dale Miquelle of the WCS Russian Far East Program called the results of the surveys “sobering,”
but remained hopeful. “The good news is that we believe this trend can be reversed if immediate action
is taken,” he said.

5. Credentials/Info

-WCS Supporters for Siberian Tiger Region

Wildlife Conservation Society[saves wildlife and wild places worldwide. We do so through science,
global conservation, education and the management of the world's largest system of urban wildlife
parks, led by the flagship Bronx Zoo.], November 24, 2009, “Siberian Tigers Fade Away”,
http://www.wcs.org/new-and-noteworthy/siberian-tigers-fade-away.aspx

WCS’s conservation work in this region has been generously supported by: 21st Century Tiger, E. Lisk
Wyckoff, Jr. and the Homeland Foundation; Save The Tiger Fund – a partnership of the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation and the ExxonMobil Foundation; US Fish and Wildife Foundation; Robertson
Foundation; Panthera; and the Liz Claiborne and Art Ortenberg Foundation.

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