The number of endangered Amur tigers has increased by 150 individuals thanks to measures protecting rare animals. Special Presidential Representative for Environmental Protection, Ecology and Transport Sergei Ivanov shared the latest figures with President of Russia Vladimir Putin during their meeting on 1 February.

The Amur tiger preservation programme is progressing very successfully. The tiger population, which is recorded by video and trail cameras, has increased by 150.

“The key is a rigorous protection system. The law, passed at your initiative, on upgrading penalties for poaching endangered species has yielded the expected results. Poachers are already serving prison terms. Actually, these cases have now become isolated,” Sergei Ivanov said.

He also noted that programmes to protect other rare animal species were being successfully implemented. A quarter of Russia’s territory is under some form of protection, and the country leads the world in this respect.

Today, about 750 Amur tigers live in Russia. They are included in the IUCN Red List and the Russian Red Data Book. The population was almost completely destroyed in the middle of the 20^th century because of uncontrolled tiger shooting.