In January 2019, researchers from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution at the Russian Academy of Sciences held another field study as part of the Amur Tiger programme of the academy’s permanent expedition for research of animals listed in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation and other important species of Russian fauna. The main work was conducted in the Ussuri Nature Reserve.

Experts installed over 35 pairs of trail cameras and collected data from stationary devices at the nature reserve. In April, they will receive new data and will be able to evaluate the Amur tiger population density in the area. Four tigers, including a female with a 1.5-year-old cub, are regularly spotted there.

“This year, we will see how the population density has changed over the past few years. According to preliminary data, we know that the number of tigers decreased in 2010 (probably after a canine distemper epidemic). The population has been recovering, but has not reached the previous level that existed before 2010 yet,” said Sergei Naidenko, deputy director for research at the Severtsov Institute.