September 06, 2021

A Big Win for Big Cats


A Big Win for Big Cats
While these cats are still a long way from being in a safe, this is still a huge milestone for their conservation. Photo by Andy Holmes via Unsplash

A recent conversation between the Eastern branch of the World Wildlife Fund of Russia and RIA News has given us some promising information about the future of the Far East's big cat population. According to a representative from the group, both the populations of the Amur Tiger and the Amur Leopard have surpassed the point where extinction is a critical concern. 

A lot of this progress has happened incrementally over the past several years, thanks to the help of state-run animal and nature conservation programs. For the tigers, the Amur Tiger Center has been an immense help. The organization estimates that the current total number of tigers within the Russian/Manchurian region is somewhere between 450-480. 

The Land of the Leopard National Park has created an excellent reservation for the cats to live within and estimates to have around 110 leopards in the park. Of course, even the most solid borders are mere suggestions for these cats, as a fence is no obstacle for these excellent climbers. The cats do move between Russia and China of their own free will, either for hunting or for breeding, and this is likely to change in the future as the ecology of the two countries changes too.  

You Might Also Like

Saving the Amur Tiger
  • September 01, 2007

Saving the Amur Tiger

The magisterial tigers of Russia's Far East are on the brink of extinction. Threats to their survival are legion: from poachers to Chinese "healers" to nervous villagers to corrupt bureaucrats. All told, just a few hundred Amur Tigers remain in the wild.
Ice, Ice, Baby Tigers
  • November 21, 2019

Ice, Ice, Baby Tigers

A cold flag, a resolved cold case, and the not-cold-at-all hearts of Russian children
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

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Steppe
July 15, 2022

Steppe

This is the work that made Chekhov, launching his career as a writer and playwright of national and international renown. Retranslated and updated, this new bilingual edition is a super way to improve your Russian.

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. 

Russian Rules
November 16, 2011

Russian Rules

From the shores of the White Sea to Moscow and the Northern Caucasus, Russian Rules is a high-speed thriller based on actual events, terrifying possibilities, and some really stupid decisions.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

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