The day of the Amur tiger, the symbol of the Russian Far East, will be observed in the capital of the Primorye Territory on 27 and 28 September.

The Amur Tiger Centre, which was created in the summer of 2013 by the Russian Geographical Society on President Putin’s initiative, will join in the celebrations for the first time.

The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of the preservation of wildlife including Amur tigers. The feline, listed in Russia’s Red Data Book, is one of the rarest animals in the world. The latest count puts the number of tigers in the wild at 500 with the majority inhabiting the Khabarovsk and Primorye territories.  

According to the Amur Tiger Centre’s Primorye branch director, Sergei Aramilev, there are few commemorative days that remind people how fragile the world around them is, how vulnerable other living creatures are, and what they can do to preserve part of a pristine environment.

“Amur Tiger Day is one of those days. Of course, observance of this day will not directly affect the tiger’s population. But remember that the tiger itself, however strong it is, can do nothing. It can’t protect itself and other animals against extinction and it can’t protect the unique forest from being felled or against fires. The Amur tiger’s fate is in the hands of the people living nearby and it’s their choice that can ensure the survival of both the tiger and the unique nature system,” Aramilev said.