Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences Permanent Expedition for the Study of Red Data Book Animals and Other Important Wildlife in Russia, who are carrying out a project of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) on the study of rare species (the Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard, snow leopard, beluga, near Asian leopard and polar bear), made reports at the 5^th International Wildlife Management Congress, which took place in Sapporo, Japan from 26 to 31 July.  

The Russian scientists reported on the principles of recovery of the populations of large carnivores and the reintroduction of the Amur tiger and other big cats in Russia (Vyacheslav Rozhnov); the social structure and habitat use by Amur tigers in the south of the Russian Far East, based on data obtained using GPS-telemetry and camera traps (Jose Antonio Hernandez-Blanco); the genetic structure of the Amur tiger population and the extent of isolation of the Sikhote-Alin and southwestern groups (Pavel Sorokin); evaluation of the physiological status of large carnivores as an objective tool to assess the status of populations of rare and commercial species (Sergei Naidenko); cross-border movements of large carnivores in Russia’s Far East (Maria Chistopolova); assessment of the vulnerability of polar bear ice habitats in the eastern sector of the Russian Arctic (Nikita Platonov); and the distribution of beluga whales in the seas of the Russian Far East on the basis of genetic data (Ilya Meshchersky).

The reports aroused great interest at the congress, which was attended by nearly 1,000 experts from more than 50 countries and demonstrated a high level of Russian science.

The Russian participants also looked at samples of expedition equipment displayed at the congress, evaluated the achievements of their foreign colleagues and exchanged experience.

Russia's participation in the congress makes it possible to attract the attention of environmental organisations and young specialists to the problems of rare species, and to raise interest among potential sponsors for supporting scientific environmental activities.