The number of Amur Tigers has increased in the Leopard Land National Park, the nature reserve’s director Andrei Borodin said in an interview published on the reserve’s official website.

Anthropogenic factors and protection against poachers and food availability were the primary factors that led to the increase, Mr Borodin said.

“We should not downplay the fact that fewer tigers were probably counted than were really there. Better equipment has helped us to monitor a greater area and to keep track of the tigers that we missed earlier,” Mr Borodin said.

“In winter, we will implement a winter trail-based counting method, as we refer to it. Using this method, specialists count not just leopards, but all of the animals that they encounter in various parts of the national park. Soon we will be aware of the actual number of animals living here,” Mr Borodin said.

Mr Borodin added that cooperation between the Land of Leopard and the Call of the Tiger national parks. The cooperation involves exchanging scientific personnel and information.

“Our animals interact as well – tigers come to our area from their reserve, while our hoofed mammals go there from time to time. We are always in touch, exchanging information, and cooperating,” Mr Borodin said.