The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment will carry out a comprehensive calculation of the Amur tiger population in Russia during the winter of 2014-2015. This calculation is conducted every 10 years.

Monitoring of changes in numbers are held annually in 16 locations.

Under the latest survey, which was carried out in the winter of 2004-2005, the number of Amur tigers in Russia is stable, at 334-417 adults and 97-112 cubs, making a total of around 500 in all.

As well as providing data on numbers, the full-scale survey will enable information to be obtained on the present-day borders of their habitat areas, the sex and age breakdown of the population, relative numbers of the main species of tiger prey, and necessary tiger conservation measures.

In accordance with Russia's obligations, which have been talked about in amongst other places at the International Tiger Conservation Forum in St Petersburg, registering and counting the numbers of Amur Tigers is one of Russia's policies and the main indicator of success in implementing the country's national strategy and global tiger conservation programme.

“The Amur Tiger Conservation Programme was developed in 1996 and launched in 2010, and the results of the upcoming winter calculation will become crucial for summarising the Ministry’s four-year work with this comprehensive document,” Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Rinat Gizatulin said.

The working group for preparing and conducting a universal calculation of the Amur tiger population in Russia during the winter of 2014-2015 will be headed by Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources Amirkhan Amirkhanov.