In the winter of 2014-2015 was first held a one-time photographic records of tigers in two specially protected natural areas of federal significance: the Sikhote-Alin Reserve and National Park «Udege legend.» For the realization of this exciting project Sikhote-Alin Reserve received a grant of the Russian Geographical Society, which allowed to acquire photo-traps and related equipment. In addition, work on photographic records active participation of employees Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), in FGBU «Sikhote-Alin State Reserve», informs «Pacific Russia».
In the Sikhote-Alin Reserve account tigers using camera traps held since 2006, in the national park photographic records trial was carried out in 2012. However, surveys conducted at different times, which complicates the implementation of the overall analysis. «National Park» Udege Legend «- our closest neighbors — the distance between the northern boundary of the Reserve and National Park, only a few tens of kilometers. Therefore, it is likely that we have a «common» tigers «, — says Dmitry Gorshkov, Director of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. In order to refute or confirm this information, it was decided to hold a one-time photographic records.
In October 2014 staff reserves, national parks and WCS established in the territory of the NP «Udege Legend» 17 pairs of camera traps. The first phase of the one-time registration is complete — check photo-traps set in the national park, in the near future to check camera traps installed in the northern part of the reserve — the area bordering the national park.
«For the first few months of photographic records was obtained 130 photos of four adult tigers — one female and three males. Very pleased that it was possible to capture three cubs, age, judging by the pictures, for about six months, «- said Boris Litvinov, Director of the National Park» Udege Legend. » It is important to note that regard was not covered the whole territory of the national park, and the total number of tigers living there, possibly more.
«It is particularly exciting for us that one of the camera traps captured the entire tiger family: one after the other, stepping in the tracks past the traps, was a big male tiger, followed by three female and cub. This is the first time for Amur tigers, when it was possible to confirm that in the wild, males occasionally visit his family «- says Dale Miquelle, director of the Russian representation of the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Preliminary identification of tigers from photographs showed that no animal has not been fixed on both protected areas. «Most likely, not all tigers in the national park, were noted on the photo-traps. After all, the male portion of the Amur tiger can reach 1-2 thousand sq. M. km, and to get around such a large area, it takes a long time — says Svetlana Sutyrina, deputy director of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve for scientific work. — It is possible that one of the males, noted in reserves and national parks, protected areas both visits. Photographic record’s final results will be announced in late March, when they removed all the photo-traps».
«Holding a one-time photographic records tiger over a large area — it is an opportunity to get more accurate information about the status of tiger population. Therefore, we plan to continue this type of work», — says Dmitry Gorshkov, Director of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve.