The Amur Tiger Centre, which the Russian Geographical Society established in 2013 at the initiative of President Vladimir Putin, has become Russia’s official representative at the Global Tiger Forum (GTF). The decision was taken by the GTF Standing Committee.

GTF Secretary General Dr Rajesh Gopal pointed out Russia’s long-standing successful tiger conservation practices and its vital place among the tiger range countries. Before Russia joined the GTF, the organisation had eight members: Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Vietnam and the UK.

Dr Rajesh Gopal said that they welcomed the Amur Tiger Centre and hoped to carry on cooperation with Russia through the exchange of experience and knowledge, first and foremost to reinforce the tigers’ prey base and to promote the related research.

Director General of the Amur Tiger Centre Sergei Aramilev noted that they had been closely involved in the implementation of the St Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation since the time when the centre was established.

“Russia has accumulated considerable experience, and I am sure that we will properly represent the country on the international stage with the support of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Russia should have joined the GTF long ago. It has happened at last,” Sergei Aramilev added.

The Global Tiger Forum (GTF) is an intergovernmental international body established in 1993 together with the countries willing to embark on a global campaign to protect the tiger. The main objectives of the GTF are to promote global campaigns to save the tiger, its prey and its habitat; increase the number of secure habitats for tigers; promote comprehensive legal frameworks for tiger conservation; and provide financial and infrastructural capabilities for tiger conservation.