Naturalists are doing research on the Amur tiger in the Ussuri Nature Reserve

Researchers capture Amur tigers in the taiga to take samples of their blood, hair and feces for subsequent molecular, genetic and hormone analysis

Researchers capture Amur tigers in the taiga to take samples of their blood, hair and feces for subsequent molecular, genetic and hormone analysis

Researchers capture Amur tigers in the taiga to take samples of their blood, hair and feces for subsequent molecular, genetic and hormone analysis

Researchers fastening a collar around the neck of the captured tiger. The collar has satellite-tracked GPS navigators attached to it which will transmit information about the tiger’s position to a computer

Researchers fastening a collar around the neck of the captured tiger. The collar has satellite-tracked GPS navigators attached to it which will transmit information about the tiger’s position to a computer

Researchers fastening a collar around the neck of the captured tiger. The collar has satellite-tracked GPS navigators attached to it which will transmit information about the tiger’s position to a computer

The GPS collar allows researchers to track the tiger’s migrations in real time

The GPS collar allows researchers to track the tiger’s migrations in real time

The GPS collar allows researchers to track the tiger’s migrations in real time

Photo-traps with infrared light are installed in the taiga along the tigers’ likely routes

Photo-traps with infrared light are installed in the taiga along the tigers’ likely routes

Photo-traps are installed in order to take pictures of animals simultaneously from both sides, as this is the only way to make an individual portrait of each predator

Photo-traps are installed in order to take pictures of animals simultaneously from both sides, as this is the only way to make an individual portrait of each predator

Naturalists posing for a photo with a tiger

Researchers measure the length of the body, the weight, blood pressure and pulse rate of the tiger put to sleep by an injection of anaesthetic

Researchers measure the length of the body, the weight, blood pressure and pulse rate of the tiger put to sleep by an injection of anaesthetic

One of the methods to research tigers is to study their tracks. A tiger can be identified by the size and form of its paw prints

Naturalists are monitoring a whole group of tigers in the Ussuri taiga

Tigers wear collars with satellite-tracked GPS navigators and transmitters for about 18 months, after which time the battery life expires and the collar automatically unfastens

The striped pattern is unique for each Amur tiger therefore it is used almost as a “fingerprint analysis” for this species of predatory cats