January 21, 2022

Tiger Toes Get Chilly, Too


Tiger Toes Get Chilly, Too
The tiger in question was just a little smaller than the one in this photo. Pexels, Pixabay. 

Not even Russia's tigers are immune from cold winters, as the recent case of a frostbitten kitten demonstrates.

The Amur tiger cub, also known as a Siberian tiger,  suffering from frostbite, was found by a local fisherman months ago in Russia's Primorye region. When found, the female tiger cub was estimated to be around 4 to 5 months old, and weighed in at only 20 kilograms, half the normal size for her age. 

The tiger cub was taken in by the Amur Tiger Center to be cared for. Upon examination, it was determined she had frostbite on her tail, necrosis in her jaw, as well as other injuries. It was clear she would need extensive surgery to stop the decay of her tissue and cells caused by the necrosis. 

To prepare the cub for surgery, she first had to gain around 10 kilograms and had the tip of her tail cut off where frostbite had damaged it beyond repair. She was then ready to undergo her two-and-a-half-hour surgery. According to the Amur Tiger Center, the surgery was a success. While Sergei Aramilev, head of the Amur Tiger Center, seems confident that the necrosis has been stopped from harming the cub any further, her recovery is still unpredictable. 

While this case may simply seem like one unlucky tiger cub, it has been seen before, and there is a vast significance behind it. According to International Union for the Conservation of Nature's Red List, the amur tiger is listed as endangered. There are only about 600 of these tigers left in Russia, with the remaining in China, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). President Putin has proclaimed efforts in the protection of the endangered species a decade ago while serving as the nation's prime minister, focused on doubling the population of the tiger by the year 2022. 

You Might Also Like

A Big Win for Big Cats
  • September 06, 2021

A Big Win for Big Cats

Big cats can rest easy knowing that both the Amur Tiger and the Amur Leopard have been declared safe from the possibility of extinction. 
Beastly Benefits
  • May 14, 2021

Beastly Benefits

When the show can no longer go on, animal members of the Russian State Circus will now be given the opportunity to retire in style in Crimea.
A Paw-some Recovery
  • March 17, 2021

A Paw-some Recovery

Rescuers at the Amur Tiger Center are always happy to lend a helping hand (or paw) to tigers in need.  
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Latchkey Murders
July 01, 2015

The Latchkey Murders

Senior Lieutenant Pavel Matyushkin is back on the case in this prequel to the popular mystery Murder at the Dacha, in which a serial killer is on the loose in Khrushchev’s Moscow...

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka
November 01, 2012

Davai! The Russians and Their Vodka

In this comprehensive, quixotic and addictive book, Edwin Trommelen explores all facets of the Russian obsession with vodka. Peering chiefly through the lenses of history and literature, Trommelen offers up an appropriately complex, rich and bittersweet portrait, based on great respect for Russian culture.

Survival Russian
February 01, 2009

Survival Russian

Survival Russian is an intensely practical guide to conversational, colloquial and culture-rich Russian. It uses humor, current events and thematically-driven essays to deepen readers’ understanding of Russian language and culture. This enlarged Second Edition of Survival Russian includes over 90 essays and illuminates over 2000 invaluable Russian phrases and words.

At the Circus
January 01, 2013

At the Circus

This wonderful novella by Alexander Kuprin tells the story of the wrestler Arbuzov and his battle against a renowned American wrestler. Rich in detail and characterization, At the Circus brims with excitement and life. You can smell the sawdust in the big top, see the vivid and colorful characters, sense the tension build as Arbuzov readies to face off against the American.

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas
October 01, 2013

The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas

This exciting new trilogy by a Russian author – who has been compared to Orhan Pamuk and Umberto Eco – vividly recreates a lost world, yet its passions and characters are entirely relevant to the present day. Full of mystery, memorable characters, and non-stop adventure, The Pet Hawk of the House of Abbas is a must read for lovers of historical fiction and international thrillers.

 
Moscow and Muscovites
November 26, 2013

Moscow and Muscovites

Vladimir Gilyarovsky's classic portrait of the Russian capital is one of Russians’ most beloved books. Yet it has never before been translated into English. Until now! It is a spectactular verbal pastiche: conversation, from gutter gibberish to the drawing room; oratory, from illiterates to aristocrats; prose, from boilerplate to Tolstoy; poetry, from earthy humor to Pushkin. 

Life Stories
September 01, 2009

Life Stories

The Life Stories collection is a nice introduction to contemporary Russian fiction: many of the 19 authors featured here have won major Russian literary prizes and/or become bestsellers. These are life-affirming stories of love, family, hope, rebirth, mystery and imagination, masterfully translated by some of the best Russian-English translators working today. The selections reassert the power of Russian literature to affect readers of all cultures in profound and lasting ways. Best of all, 100% of the profits from the sale of this book are going to benefit Russian hospice—not-for-profit care for fellow human beings who are nearing the end of their own life stories.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955