Preliminary results of a study of the Amur tiger population indicate that the population is stable. The Amur tiger is listed in the Red Data Book, and currently there are about 450 tigers left, according to a representative of the Primorye department for the protection and regulation of fauna.

The annual tiger population study is conducted on the basis of snow tracks. This year it was held from December 2012 to March 2013 in the Primorye and Khabarovsk territories. During that period, researchers followed nearly 250 sets of tracks and examined an area of 23,555 square kilometres, which accounts for 15-18% of the tigers' entire habitat.

"The forecast is optimistic. The results of tracking showed that the general population did not decrease, and even grew in certain areas. We cannot provide exact figures as yet, as we took a random sample this year. A comprehensive study will be carried out in the winter of 2013-2014," the representative said.

He noted that 450-500 Amur tigers are left in the world. The animal's numbers have declined in the Terneisky, Dalnerechensky, and Chuguyevsky districts. But experts point out that the missing tigers could have migrated to other areas in the Primorye Territory.