On 30 June, a group of aspiring ecologists arrived at the Sikhote Alin tiger sanctuary, in Russia’s Primorsky Territory, to help with improvements on the ground. The 25-person team has been formed by the Amur Tiger Centre non-profit organisation from students of the Far Eastern Federal University and the Primorsky State Agricultural Academy.

On 1 July, the students, who specialise in ecology, biology, forestry, wildlife conservation and veterinarian medicine, will spend the next two months renovating the Cape Severny trail, which is intended to become a hallmark of the sanctuary. Their task will be to level out the 5km-long trail, building a trail surface and small crossover bridges.

On the first day, the Tiger team set up their camp, complete with a makeshift kitchen, and assigned a duty schedule for the daily chores they will perform to keep their temporary house in order. They also attended an orientation meeting, familiarising themselves with safety regulations and confirming their vaccination records.

Several adult specialists have been appointed to supervise the student team, helping with coordination, food procurement, order and maintenance.

Every member of the team has been provided with a mosquito-protection outfit, a pair of army boots, a folding bed and a sleeping bag. During their stay at the sanctuary, the students will be given three meals a day and an opportunity to visit a sauna at the end of their working hours.
Built back in 2007, the Cape Severny trail now requires renovation. In the first place, new bridges need to be built over the Sukhoi stream, crossing the trail, to replace the old bridges, washed away by flooding last year. Olga Arifulina, deputy director for ecology education at the Sikhote Alin sanctuary, believes that a well-equipped trail could draw in more visitors without any serious impact on the ecosystem.

Since its foundation, the sanctuary’s main aim has been to preserve the Amur tiger, the world’s rarest feline species. Russian specialists’ efforts have helped the Amur tiger population to grow somewhat in recent years, but the species remains endangered to this day. It is in the Sikhote Alin sanctuary that the animal's natural habitats have been preserved most fully. The student team’s work on the ground is expected to bring into the spotlight the problem of conservation of the Amur tiger and other wildlife, while also promoting eco-tourism in the region.