On 19 September, the Moscow-Vladivostok train No.1/2 Rossiya with tiger- and leopard-themed decorations departed from the Yaroslavsky Railway Station to mark the annual Tiger Day. The campaign’s goal is to raise awareness of research on and conservation of Red Data Book species. Tiger Day will be celebrated on 25 September in Vladivostok when the train arrives in the capital of the Primorye Territory.

The train was unveiled by Oleg Nikitin, deputy director general of the Federal Passenger Company; Yury Biryukov, general director of the Amur Tiger Centre; and Svetlana Stefanovskaya, deputy general director of the Far Eastern Leopards autonomous non-profit organisation.

The train exterior is decorated with large images of Amur tigers and Far Eastern leopards, and the interior features posters and trivia about the predators. The second themed train will depart from Moscow on 25 September. The Federal Passenger Company will show documentary films about Amur tigers and photo albums about Far Eastern leopards to passengers on this and other long-distance routes.

The train’s departure also opens the Amur Tiger and Far Eastern Leopard Photo Hunt photography contest running from 19 to 25 September. Amateur and professional photographers can submit their photos of the Rossiya themed train on the route. The best photos will decorate the interior and will be published on social media.

This is the first wild cat campaign on the railway network. Earlier, Striped Express trains decorated with images of the animals were launched on the grey and light green lines of the Moscow Metro.