Vladimir Putin and Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu aboard a plane, getting a bird’s eye view of the Ussuri Nature Reserve that has been carrying out a programme to protect the Amur tigers

After landing Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu going straight to one of researchers’ field tents

Professor Vyacheslav Rozhnov showing Vladimir Putin the devices researchers use to study predators: a GPS collar, a photo-trap, and others

An air rifle loaded with a tranquilliser. The dose of tranquilliser, which depends on the animal’s weight, puts the animal to sleep in just a few minutes

Photo-traps with infrared lights are cameras used for making observations at a distance, and they are installed in the taiga along the tigers’ likely routes

Vycheslav Rozhnov, a deputy director of the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, showing Vladimir Putin a satellite-tracked collar with a GPS navigator which researchers fasten around the captured tiger’s neck

Professor Rozhnov showing Vladimir Putin an air rifle which scientists use to immobilise tigers

Vladimir Putin is particularly interested in the air rifle, and so he takes it and tries to aim

A group of researchers working in the forest unexpectedly send a message: “A tigress has been trapped.” Vladimir Putin decides to go to see the trapped animal straight away

Vladimir Putin and a group of researchers going to the taiga to see the trapped tigress

Vladimir Putin and a group of researchers going to the taiga to see the trapped tigress

On their way to the taiga, the scientists show Vladimir Putin another trap they have recently installed

The moment that the tigress breaks free from the trap, Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu and the researchers appear on the trail

Vladimir Putin takes a shot from an air rifle at the tigress who managed to escape from the steel loop. A syringe with a tranquilliser hits the animal

Vladimir Putin takes a shot from an air rifle at the tigress who managed to escape from the steel loop. A syringe with a tranquilliser hits the animal

A few minutes after the injection of the tranquilliser the tigress falls asleep and is no longer a threat

A few minutes after the injection of the tranquilliser the tigress falls asleep and is no longer a threat

Professor Rozhnov explaining to Vladimir Putin that the tigress will sleep at least 30 minutes

The scientists put special plastic covers on the tigress’ canine teeth so that the animal does not choke after the anaesthetic takes effect

The scientists put special plastic covers on the tigress’ canine teeth so that the animal does not choke after the anaesthetic takes effect

Vladimir Putin and the researchers fastening a satellite-tracked GPS collar around the tigress’ neck. From now on, all information about the animal’s position will be transmitted to the researchers’ computer in real time

Vladimir Putin and the researchers fastening a satellite-tracked GPS collar around the tigress’ neck. From now on, all information about the animal’s position will be transmitted to the researchers’ computer in real time

Vladimir Putin and the researchers fastening a satellite-tracked GPS collar around the tigress’ neck. From now on, all information about the animal’s position will be transmitted to the researchers’ computer in real time

While the tigress is asleep, the researchers take a blood test to check her health

The researchers measure the length, weight, blood pressure and pulse rate of the sleeping tigress

The researchers measure the length, weight, blood pressure and pulse rate of the sleeping tigress

Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu and the researchers having their photograph taken with the tigress

Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu and the researchers going back to the camp

Vladimir Putin, Sergei Shoigu and the researchers going back to the camp

Vladimir Putin and Sergei Shoigu leaving the Ussuri Nature Reserve