Wildlife experts met in the Moscow lecture hall of the Russian Geographical Society on 17 June for a round table on protecting big cats and other rare animals.

Arkady Tishkov, Deputy Chairman of the Standing Commission on Environmental Protection of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS), said the group’s attention to environmental problems continues to grow. He attributes the reputation of the RGS as the leading public organisation in the field to the projects it sponsors to protect Russia’s natural heritage and rare species.

During the round table, speakers shared their experience in protecting rare cat species and discussed the results of their many years of work.

The Far Eastern leopard population in Russia had hovered around 30 for decades until the 2013 census showed that the population grew to 47, of which 30, or almost 64%, were tracked in Land of the Leopard National Park. According to Yelena Salmanova, Deputy Research Director at the Joint Directorate of Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and Land of the Leopard National Park, the population growth is the result of effective conservation measures, including the fight against poachers of leopards and their prey, efforts to raise the public’s environmental awareness, and forest fire prevention.

In another piece of good news, the Amur tiger population in the national park has also increased.

The Amur Tiger Centre contributed to the effort to optimise hunting supervision in the Primorye Territory. Wildlife services were provided with more fuel, and emergency teams were equipped with cars, snowmobiles and quads.

Sergei Aramilev, PhD (Biology), Director of the Primorye Territory branch of the Amur Tiger Centre, noted that people are getting used to the wildlife services that patrol the territories, which has an important preventive effect.

Conservation goes beyond the fight against poaching, and includes monitoring animal populations, establishing reintroduction centres and studying diseases that may pose a threat to rare species.

Sergei Naidenko, PhD (Biology), lead researcher at the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Science, discussed how growing pet populations can increase the risk of disease among wild animals. To protect rare species like the Amur tiger, Naidenko said, guidelines on pet care are needed, in particular, compulsory vaccinations for dogs.

Scientists from the Severtsov Institute are engaged in comprehensive research of rare animals. The RAS permanent expedition, supported by the Russian Geographical Society, is engaged in comprehensive research of Amur tigers, Far Eastern leopards, snow leopards, polar bears and white whales.

Vyacheslav Rozhnov, DSc (Biology), associate member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, talked about various approaches to the study of rare animals, including an environmental and behavioural approach, conservation genetics, environmental biochemistry, field veterinary medicine, and satellite imaging.

During the round table, the scientists emphasised that conservation requires coordination between inspectors, research, and efforts to educate the public about the environment. Only this multi-pronged approach will help conserve Russia’s regal tigers, graceful leopards and mysterious snow leopards.