Amur tiger protected area reserves. Lazovsky state reserve. tiger and man

The largest and northernmost predatory cat in the world, the Amur tiger, lives in Russia. The people dubbed the animal by the name of the taiga - the Ussuri or the name of the region - the Far East, and foreigners call the animal the Siberian tiger. In Latin, the subspecies is called panthera tigris altaica. There is no difference, but the official name is still the Amur tiger.

Characteristic

The Amur tiger is a predator from the cat family, the genus Panthera, a class of mammals. Belongs to the species of tigers, is a separate subspecies. The size is almost like a small car - 3 meters, and the weight is three times less - an average of 220 kg. By nature, males are a quarter larger than females.

Rare the animal has thick long hair - it protects from taiga frosts, and black stripes on it mask from enemies. The fur coat of the Amur tiger is not so bright and striped, unlike other subspecies. The color does not change in winter and summer - it remains red, but in winter it is a little lighter than in summer. The animal has rather wide paws - they help to walk in deep snow.

Black stripes serve as a camouflage © Camera trap NP "Land of the Leopard"

Thick wool protects from taiga frosts © Maia C, Flickr.com

Symbol Far East listed in the International Red Book. In the 1930s, hunters exterminated 97% of the Far Eastern tigers. To save the animal from extinction, the state banned hunting for it, and since the 1960s, the number began to grow. For 90 years, the population has increased by 20 times, but this is not enough: the Amur tiger still has the status of a rare animal.

Life expectancy depends on conditions. In captivity, the animal will live up to 20 years because it has a safe home, food and veterinarians. In the wild taiga, the opposite is often the case: frost is -40 ° C, the absence of animals for food, the struggle for free territory, poaching. In freedom, tigers live a happy life, but twice as short - about 10 years. Although this is enough to live longer than their fellow species.

Amur tiger habitat

The Amur tiger lives in the southern part of the Far East. The main habitats are on the banks of the Amur and Ussuri rivers in the Khabarovsk Territory and at the foot of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in the Primorsky Territory. Also, part of the animals is located in the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Some animals live in reserves, national parks and reserves - "Sikhote-Alinsky", "Lazovsky", "Bikin", "Land of the Leopard". Inspectors protect territories from poachers, rescue injured animals. It does not look like a zoo: predators live in free conditions, without restrictions on movement. But there is a problem - there is not enough space for the entire population, and 80% of the subspecies lives in unprotected taiga forests and hunting farms.

Far Eastern tigers choose cedar-broad-leaved forests for life Ussuri taiga. If the cuttings are not stopped, the animals will lose their homes.

In Russia, the largest population of the Amur tiger is the pride of the Far Eastern taiga. Among all subspecies of tigers, Russia ranks second - we have 13% of the world population, the first place remains with India. Sometimes Amur tigers make a cross-border transition: by land or river, they get from Russia to neighboring countries - China or to the north of the DPRK. But this does not prevent our country from leading in the number of individuals.

Nutrition

Tiger - pinnacle the food chain in the ecosystem of the Ussuri taiga. This means that the entire Far Eastern nature depends on its numbers: if there is no tiger, there will be no nature. To prevent this from happening, there should be enough ungulates in habitats.

10 kg
a tiger should eat meat a day

The main diet is wild boars, spotted deer, red deer and roe deer. If these animals are not enough, tigers feed on badgers, raccoons, hares, fish, and sometimes overwhelm bears. In severe famine, Amur tigers attack livestock and dogs. But in order to be full and healthy, one tiger still needs fifty ungulates a year.

Lifestyle

Ussuri tigers are solitary in their way of life. The male meets with the female for a couple of days, does not participate in the upbringing of the cubs, and the female also lives her own life when the offspring reaches puberty. Amur tigers even go hunting alone, although it is more difficult to get food.

Amur tigers live for years in one territory, if there is enough food around. And only the factor of its absence can make them make the transition to another place. The territory is assigned to the tiger with odorous marks, scratches in the ground and bullying on trees. So if strangers decide to enter his territory, then only because of arrogant behavior - then a fight will occur.

The Amur tiger hunts around its territory. He sees the victim, crawls closer to her, arches his back and puts emphasis on the ground with his hind legs. If you manage to go unnoticed, after the jump, the predator takes the trophy, but according to statistics, only one in ten attempts is successful.

Amur tigers are solitary in their way of life © Leonid Dubeikovsky, WWF-Russia

The tiger hunts around its territory © Vladimir Filonov, WWF-Russia

1 out of 10 attempts to get food ends in success © Viktor Nikiforov, WWF-Russia

Each cat has its own place: 20 km2 is enough for a female, and 100 km2 for a male in the Far Eastern taiga. Tiger cubs settle in places hidden from strangers, which the mother equips in thickets, crevices and caves. One male has 2-3 females with offspring in the territory.

Amur tigers breed once every two years. After 3-4 months, the tigress hatches from two to four cubs. At first, the mother feeds the cubs with milk, they try meat only at two months. Around the clock, the mother is next to the children only for the first week, then she goes hunting. Until the age of two, the tigress teaches her cubs to get food, they live with her. Tiger cubs become mature by the age of three or four.

Animals show their emotions with sounds and touches. For example, when you need to greet each other, they exhale rhythmically through their mouths and noses. To show sympathy or tenderness, they rub against each other and purr like domestic cats. In irritation, they wheeze and growl softly, in rage they make sounds similar to coughing.

A male has up to 3 females with cubs © Victor Zhivotchenko, WWF-Russia

tiger and man

Relationships with humans are a complex issue for Russian tigers. On the one hand, because of people, they were on the verge of extinction, but thanks to people, the population grew. Population growth also raised a question: now the animals need more space and food. Again, human activity interferes with this through logging, fires and poaching.

Due to the lack of ungulates, predators sometimes come to the villages for cattle and dogs, which disturbs the local residents. Between 2000 and 2016, there were 279 such conflicts in which 33 tigers died. Tigers avoid contact with people: instincts are responsible for hunting wild animals, in rare cases- at home. There are two cases when a tiger reacts to a person - he is injured or he has nowhere to run.

Wherein locals help tigers, but they do not touch people. When the townspeople encounter the beast near the settlements, they call in a task force. Conflict minimization specialists come and take the predator to rehabilitation center. There are two of them in the south of the Far East: Utes in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Tiger Center in Primorye.

In rehabilitation centers, the animals are fed, nurtured, but they are not allowed to get used to captivity - this is how they retain their instincts. Before being released into the wild, predators are put on a GPS collar: it allows specialists to make sure that the animal does not come to people anymore.

Tiger Uporny came to the village of Vyazemsky and crushed three local dogs due to lack of food. Residents did not fight and called inspectors to resolve conflicts. The exhausted predator was taken to the Utes rehabilitation center, and six months later they were released into the taiga, wearing a GPS collar. Thanks to the collar, the staff of the center made sure that the wild instincts did not disappear: Persistent hunted without problems and established contacts with other tigers in the wild, but he no longer came to people.

The Amur tiger is one of the rarest species of predators. Back in the 19th century there were quite a lot of them. However, due to poachers in the 30s of the twentieth century, the species was on the verge of extinction. At that time in the territory Soviet Union only 50 left.

During the expedition of 2008-2009, a special expedition "Amur Tiger" took place. So, it was found that there were only 6 tigers within the boundaries of the Ussuriysky Reserve.

Description of the species

The Amur tiger belongs to the class of mammals. In fact, it is one of the largest representatives of predators on the planet, because its mass can reach up to 300 kilograms. Moreover, according to some reports, during the period of their large population there were animals of this species that weighed almost 400 kg. It goes without saying that these are no longer to be found.

The physical capabilities of this type of predator are also impressive - a tiger can easily carry prey weighing half a ton on itself. The speed of movement can reach up to 80 km / h, and in this indicator it is second only to the cheetah.

It should also be noted appearance this animal. Like other predators of this class, it has a color in the form of a red background and white transverse stripes. It should be noted that in this case, this color also plays a camouflage role - in order to get prey, the tiger needs to get extremely close to it, and this color helps in this, since it simply merges with dry vegetation.

Tiger food

The predator eats only meat and most often it is prey of a fairly large size. In general, the Amur tiger spends most of its time looking for prey. Wild boars, red deer, deer are the main diet of the predator. For proper nutrition, they need about 50 ungulates per year. However, if the animal lacks large prey, then it does not disdain small ones - livestock, badgers, hares, and so on. At one time, a tiger can eat about 30 kilograms of meat, but the average portion is 10 kilograms.

Lifestyle

No matter how formidable this animal is, nevertheless, the habits that are inherent in all cats cannot be taken away from it. The tiger prefers loneliness - he enters the pack, he also goes to prey alone. The Amur tiger leaves its territory only if it is necessary to catch large prey. Also on its territory, the predator leaves special marks:

• peels off the bark on trees;
• leaves scratches;
• splashes of urine on vegetation or stones.

The male defends his territory quite harshly - the tiger simply tries to destroy the uninvited guests, but he tries to eliminate the conflict with representatives of his own species through a formidable roar. A fight for the Amur tiger is an extreme measure. Moreover, for several years he can live in complete silence.

Individuals breed twice a year. The tiger is by nature a polygamous animal, so it can keep several females on its territory at once. If another tiger claims them, then even a fight is possible.

Place of residence

This species of predator lives in the southeastern territory of Russia, the banks of the Amur River, in Manchuria and even in the territory of the DPRK. The largest number tigers resides at this moment in the region of the Lazovsky district, which is in the Primorsky Territory.

A comfortable habitat for a tiger is a river highland with trees such as oak and cedar. An adult tiger can easily live in an area up to 2000 sq. square kilometers. The female can single-handedly inhabit areas up to 450 square kilometers.

Reasons for the disappearance

Of course, the main reason that the number of Amur tigers has practically vanished is their moderate extermination by poachers. Tigers were killed up to a hundred a year, just to get a skin.

However, scientists who studied this issue in detail found that the reason for the disappearance is not only mass shooting. The reasons for the disappearance could also be the following:

• critically insufficient number of food objects;
• intentional destruction of bushes and trees inhabited by Amur tigers.

It goes without saying that these two factors did not arise without human help.

What is happening with the Amur tigers now

Now this species of predators is listed in the Red Book as such, which is on the verge of extinction. Adults and calves are under strict protection in the protected areas. However, according to observations, it was found that the protected area may not be enough for them and they go beyond its limits, which is extremely dangerous.

Unfortunately, this is far from the only species of animals that have practically disappeared from the planet just because a person made his efforts. In this case, mass shooting because of the desire to cash in led to such extremely negative consequences.

Specialists in this field are making every effort to ensure that the population of the Amur tiger has increased. However, it is quite difficult for this predator to breed in captivity, so mass attempts do not always lead to success.

The Amur tiger is the largest and northernmost tiger subspecies on the planet. Today he is one of the rarest cats, listed in the Red Book of Russia and the world. According to the latest route count based on footprints in the snow, there are about 530 tigers in Russia, 25 of which were noted in the Land of the Leopard National Park.

At the same time, photo monitoring is used to obtain the most accurate information about the number of rare predators in the reserves and national parks of Russia. According to experts, it is this method that may soon become the main tool for tracking the population of the Amur tiger.

However, before today the exchange of photomonitoring data between "tiger" specially protected natural areas was almost non-existent. This was the reason for the initiative to create a general annual report on the status of Amur tiger groups based on photo surveys in federal protected areas.

“We are all already working on counting the tiger with the help of camera traps, so all we all need is just to collect reports from all territories in time to combine them and draw general conclusions,” says Svetlana Sutyrina, Deputy Director for Research at the Federal State Budgetary Institution “Sikhote- Alinsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve.

The proposal of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve was supported by all the participants of the meeting of coordinators of the Amur tiger photo census in protected areas. The event at the Land of the Leopard office brought together representatives of federal reserves and national parks where tigers are recorded - 11 employees from 11 protected areas. Beyond discussion new program, the experts shared their experience in photo accounting, and also got acquainted with modern world trends in collecting and processing data from camera traps.

Previously, the need to combine efforts in the work on photomonitoring was unanimously supported by members Coordinating Council PAs in the south of the Far East, which took place on May 15, 2018 in Vladivostok.

"Land of the Leopard" is rightfully considered one of the most "tiger" protected areas in the predator's range in the Far East of Russia, - says Dina Matyukhina, senior researcher at the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Land of the Leopard". - We have already accumulated experience in organizing and conducting photomonitoring of large cats, processing and analyzing data. We are delighted to be a part of this important endeavor."

It is planned that the annual report will be made publicly available to researchers, and the first results of the program will be announced by the end of 2018. In addition, they will form the basis for scientific publications on the state of the Amur tiger population, including publications at a high international level.

Primorsky Krai has long been known for its unique natural wealth, the diversity of which can amaze even the most sophisticated nature lover. Most of the territory of the region belongs to the category of specially protected. Natural reserves and national parks, unique mountain and coastal landscapes, grandiose monuments of nature - all this allows Primorye to occupy an important place in international system nature conservation, as well as being a prominent point on the map of world eco-tourism. On the eve of the Day of Reserves and national parks, which will be celebrated in Russia on January 11, RIA PrimaMedia invites its readers to get acquainted with the reserved Primorye.

The kingdom of the rarest cat on planet Earth - the National Park "Land of the Leopard"

The rarest cat on the planet is the Far Eastern or amur leopard- lives exclusively in Primorsky Krai. Moreover, its habitat is limited to a relatively small area of ​​the southernmost regions of the region - Khasansky and Nadezhdinsky.

Far Eastern leopard. Photo: Gennady Yusin

The rapid economic development of these areas, as well as poaching and uncontrolled hunting, which resulted in a reduction in the food supply of the leopard, have put this magnificent feline on the brink of extinction. Only at the end of the 20th century did the Russian government pay attention to the rapid decline in the number of the Far Eastern leopard and began to develop a "Strategy for the Conservation of the Far Eastern Leopard in Russia". On June 5, 2012, by order of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia No. 145, the Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve became part of a new environmental structure - the Federal State Budget Institution "Joint Directorate of the State Natural biosphere reserve"Kedrovaya Pad" and the National Park "Land of the Leopard".

Huge scientific and educational work conservation graceful predator V this moment went to new level. The creation of a national park made it possible to count the number of cats, as well as create conditions for replenishing the population. Broad educational environmental actions, organized by the staff of the reserve and the national park, made it possible to draw attention to the problem of an endangered species of a rare predator.

In 2013, an increase in the number of leopards was recorded for the first time. Camera traps placed on the territory of the national park began to record female leopards with kittens, which indicates that the conditions created for these graceful animals were not in vain.

Leopard Typhoon. Photo: camera trap, courtesy of the Land of the Leopard Federal State Budgetary Institution

According to the latest census conducted by the National Park specialists, the number of the Far Eastern leopard has increased to 70 individuals.

In addition, another rare cat is found on the territory of the national park, the owner of the Ussuri taiga - the Amur tiger.

The Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve itself, which celebrated its centenary in 2016, is a reference area of ​​the South Ussuri taiga that has preserved relic black fir-liana-broad-leaved forests. More than 900 species of vascular plants grow here, which makes up almost half of all plant species in Primorsky Krai and makes Kedrovaya Pad the richest plant complex in the Far East.

Ginseng. Photo: Vadim Borovsky, courtesy of WWF

Only here you can meet eight species of maple, five species of birch at once, some plants are found only in the reserve and its environs.

The joint directorate of the national park and reserve is doing a great job not only to preserve and replenish the number of the Far Eastern leopard, to study it, but also to popularize careful attitude to nature and the development of ecological tourism.

Reserve "Kedrovaya Pad" - a forest treasure of the Far East. Photo: courtesy of the Land of the Leopard Federal State Budgetary Institution

For several years now, a unique a tourist route"The Leopard's Lair", in which nature lovers from all over the world can see with their own eyes the caves where leopards raise their offspring, as well as get acquainted with the conservation activities in the national park.

Tour participants visit places for feeding animals, inspect numerous camera traps installed to monitor the inhabitants of the national park, and also enjoy the amazing natural complex around the Kedrovaya Pad nature reserve. Currently, the employees of the national park are developing other ecological routes that can satisfy the thirst for knowledge of the unique nature of these places from different angles. In 2017, which is declared the Year of Specially Protected Natural Territories in our country, the national park will launch the second ecotrail, the Leopard Trail.

Reference taiga of the southern Sikhote-Alin - Ussuri Reserve

On the southern spurs of the great Sikhote-Alin, on the territory of two regions of Primorye at once, there is an amazing natural reserve - the Ussuriysk Nature Reserve of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Academician V.L. Komarov. Established back in 1932 as the Suputinsky Reserve on the territory of the Ussuriysk and Shkotovsky districts of Primorsky Krai on the initiative and with the direct participation of the country's leading botanist Academician Komarov, this specially protected natural area has become a place comprehensive study forest complexes southern Sikhote-Alin and development of measures for their protection. Until 1972, the area of ​​the reserve was 16.55 thousand hectares, at present its area has been expanded to 40.43 thousand hectares. The reserve received its current name in 1973.

99% of the territory of the reserve is occupied by forests, mainly cedar-broad-leaved. They are distinguished by high species diversity and, according to this indicator, have no analogues either in Russia or within the borders of former USSR. The flora of the reserve is represented by the richest species diversity. In total, 868 species of vascular plants, 252 species of bryophytes, 118 species of lichens, 1364 species of fungi, 210 species of algae and about 50 species of ferns have been recorded in the reserve.

Ussuri nature reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Plots of cedar forests are not uncommon, where only trees, shrubs and lianas grow up to 50-60 species. Even more species richness of the grass cover, which includes many rare plants, including the valuable Red Book medicinal plant- real ginseng. The rare species listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation also include hard juniper, seven-lobed calopanax, Chinese princepia, densely flowered pine, spiky yew and high zamaniha.

Mount Zmeinaya in the Ussuriysky Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Rare animals are carefully protected in the reserve: the Amur tiger, mandarin duck, black stork, Ussuri clawed newt. Rare species in the reserve also include shirokorot, callipogon and relict cockroach. The largest beetle of the fauna of Russia, the relic barbel, lives on the territory of the reserve. Ussuri Nature Reserve is a zone of permanent scientific research, including those with economic importance(study of honey plants, medicinal and fruit plants).

Small mountain rivers Artemovka and Komarovka flow through the territory of the reserve, overflowing during the monsoon rains. The relief of the reserve is formed by the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin ridge (Przhevalsky mountains) and includes low mountains, the height of which, in general, does not exceed 300-400 meters. In the northern part of the reserve there are limestone outcrops that form a picturesque rock mass in the middle reaches of the Suvorovka River with Mount Zmeina.

Those who manage to visit the once favorite place of work and leisure of the legendary scientist and president of the USSR Academy of Sciences will be able to enjoy the untouched pristine nature the Ussuri taiga, follow in the footsteps of the Amur tiger, and also see the academician's house, built in the heart of the reserve using a unique technology. Visitors to the northern part of the nature reserve will have an excursion to the mysterious Sleeping Beauty Cave, which contains one of the main archaeological mysteries of Primorye.

Academician Komarov's house in the Ussuriysky Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

UNESCO World Natural Heritage - Sikhote-Alin Reserve

The Sikhote-Alin State Biosphere Nature Reserve is the pride of Primorsky Krai. The northernmost of the coastal reserves - the Sikhote-Alin Reserve - the first natural Park in the Far East, included in the World natural heritage UNESCO. In addition, it became the first in Russia and the second in the world (after Nepal's Chitwan National Park) specially protected natural area to be certified as a tiger habitat by CA|TS.

To this he owes his achievements in the protection and study of his main pride- Amur tiger.

Amur tiger. Photo: Vasily Solkin

The Sikhote-Alin Reserve is the most convenient place for observing the largest cat on the planet, which makes it a place of attraction for tourists from all over the world.

IN last years two unique ecological trails have been created on the territory of the reserve, allowing tourists to get acquainted with the amazing natural world this unique place. One of the important features of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve is that on its territory you can meet the rarest representative family of artiodactyls - the Amur goral. The reserve is home to several dozen species of animals included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation, including the Amur tiger, Ussuri spotted deer, white-tailed eagle and many others.

The pristine natural landscapes of the Sikhote-Alin will not leave indifferent anyone who visits this place at least once.

Mount Camel in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Realizing this, the staff of the reserve is actively working to acquaint the inhabitants of Russia and the whole world with the unique natural potential of the reserve. Fans of ecotourism will be offered to go through one of four ecological routes, each of which is unique in its own way.

Route "Urochishe Yasnoe" will allow the tourist to get acquainted with the amazing cedar-broad-leaved forests and see with his own eyes all the stages of the renewal of cedar forests. Here you can also find a unique Red Book plant - calypso orchid.

The Golubichnaya River in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Tour visitors of the route "Tract Boars" will be able to get acquainted with various types of vegetation of the eastern macroslope of the Sikhote-Alin and rare communities of the Russian Far East. Tourists will get acquainted with the virgin cedar-spruce and spruce-fir forests. This is the only place in Russia where a very rare, relic plant, the Fori rhododendron, grows. The tour route will allow you to get acquainted with another relic species of flora - the spiky yew, as well as large trees - Maksimovich's poplars, which are famous for their size. Some specimens of these giants are so huge that the Himalayan bears use their hollows as dens.

The main object of the excursion route "Cape North" is a rookery of spotted seals (seed seals) on the rocks of Cape Severny.

Cape North. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

The tour introduces tourists to the life of spotted seals that live in these places all year round. At the same time, up to 400 seals accumulate on the stones of the cape, and this spectacle cannot leave anyone indifferent. On the way to the rookery, tourists can enjoy the magnificent diversity of the flora of the reserve, as well as meet traces of the vital activity of wild boars, spotted deer, red deer, hares, roe deer, bear and tiger tracks.

Oak crooked forest in the Sikhote-Alin Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Not so long ago, the Golubichnaya Bay ecotrail added to the list.

new ecological path The Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve is preparing to open in 2017. The picturesque 56-kilometer path will repeat the route of the expedition of the famous explorer of the Far East, Vladimir Arseniev, which he made in 1906, passing, among other things, the Sikhote-Alin.

The new route will start from the Ust-Shandui inspector's hut, which is located 11 kilometers from the Yasnaya tract. According to the traveler's diaries, at the beginning of the 20th century, the fanza "Ust-Shundui" stood on the site of this hut. "Arsenyev's Path" will be the first multi-day excursion route that will maximally restore the path of the expedition of Vladimir Arsenyev in 1906.

It is planned that tourists will spend 5 days and 5 nights in the forest. They will be delivered to the Ust-Shandui hut by car, where they will spend the first night. The huts are located at a distance of 10-12 kilometers from each other.

The tourist potential of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve is so huge that it will take more than one year to unleash it in full. The unique natural reserves of the reserve, the diversity of its landscapes, as well as the focus of the reserve team on the development of ecological tourism, will allow tourists from all over the world to discover the amazing nature of the northern part of the Ussuri taiga again and again.

Yew "treasure" of Petrov Island and protected bays - Lazovsky Reserve

The natural potential of the southwestern Sikhote-Alin in all its glory is represented by the Lazovsky State Nature Reserve. L.G. Kaplanova. The beauty of these amazing places is able to fall in love with anyone who dares to visit them.

Lazovsky Reserve is a world of broad-leaved multi-species forest temperate zone And dark coniferous forest with elements of the north-taiga zone.

Lazovsky Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

This is a habitat for many representatives of the fauna of the coastal taiga, including rare and specially protected species. A special place among them is occupied by the Amur tiger and the Amur goral - the rarest artiodactyl.

Kinds Lazovsky Reserve. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

The "visiting card" of the reserve is the largest grove of pointed yew in the entire Far East, located on Petrov Island.

In past years, the rarest cat on the planet, the Far Eastern leopard, also lived on the territory of the existing reserve, however, poaching and a reduction in food supply led to the fact that the spotted predator ceased to be found in these parts. A group of scientists from different reserves has developed a unique program for the return of the Far Eastern leopard to the southern spurs of the Sikhote-Alin - to the places of the predator's former habitat. The uniqueness of the program lies in the fact that in order to restore the population of the Far Eastern leopard in the Lazovsky district, animals will not be removed from natural environment, and the first "migrants" will be adapted baby animals from zoos.

This extensive scientific program will last for years and will become a kind of "chip" of the reserve, increasing its already huge tourist potential.

For many years, special attention has been paid to the development of ecotourism in the Lazovsky Reserve. The employees of the specialized department have developed a number of ecological routes that allow tourists to get acquainted with the amazing natural reserve of the southern Sikhote-Alin without violating the strict nature protection regime.

The reserve offers its visitors four types of excursions, each of which is aimed at getting acquainted with one or another aspect of nature protection activities. From May to September, tourists are available Tiger trail, which runs along the coast of the reserve. The participants of the tour can observe traces of the Amur tiger in this area, get acquainted with the scientific methods of studying this striped cat. During the tour, you get acquainted with the flora of the coast and representatives of the forest and marine fauna.

"Through the Ages"- this is a four-hour excursion around the territory of the reserve, after which its participants will see the amazing Lake Zarya near the bay of the same name and see the relic aquatic plant of the Schreber brazil. During the tour, you get acquainted with the historical past of these places. Then the guests will meet with the fabulous stone ensemble of the Zarya Bay. During the trip it is possible to meet sika deer, see tiger tracks.

Route "Secrets of Petrov Island" will allow the tourist to see the untouched nature of the island, which was considered the residence of the princes of the ancient state of Bohai, which has sunk into centuries.

Petrov Island. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

Tour participants will be able to look into the mirror of an ancient well, try to unravel the secrets of the ancient state, and also see the largest yew grove in the Far East.

Yew Grove on Petrov Island. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

In May-June, this amazing place becomes a flowering place for forest poppies and other early-flowering plants. The excursion route "Breath of Spring" will allow you to see it live.

The enchanting beauty of several protected islands of the Lazovsky Reserve will open to participants boat excursion "Stone Rhapsody". During a sea voyage, it is possible to meet with a spotted seal and a white-tailed eagle soaring in the sky. Picturesque bays, graceful stone creations of nature, a small bird market - all this will open before the participants of the excursion.

At the service of guests - on the central estate of the reserve hotel rooms, the Museum of Nature, the Ecocenter, modern office equipment, communications (including international), Email and the Internet, warm garages for vehicles, souvenirs. The reserve provides visa support and registration for foreign citizens.

Seaside Yellowstone - Call of the Tiger National Park

national park"Call of the Tiger", located on the territory of three districts - Chuguevsky, Olginsky and Lazovsky - is one of the most striking natural attractions of Primorsky Krai. Here, on the southern spurs of the great Sikhote-Alin ridge, five dozen majestic hills that have overcome a kilometer height are crowned by one of the highest mountains of Primorye - Oblachnaya. Here, wading through the primordial taiga, which has not seen a lumberjack's ax, traverses granite shores and rapids, then calming down on flat plateaus, then boiling up in majestic mountain river Milogradovka. Rare animals live here and a unique variety of flora has been preserved. This is a place for which nature has established its own special rules and laws.

Valley of the Milogradovka River in the National Park "Call of the Tiger". Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

A characteristic feature of the National Park "Call of the Tiger", which distinguishes it from other protected areas of the region, is predominantly mountainous terrain. Only hills and mountains, the height of which exceeds one kilometer, there are more than 50 here. Among them are highest point Primorsky Krai - Mount Cloudy (height from the foot - 1854 meters), and mountain peaks Lysaya and Snezhnaya, popular with lovers of hiking. Within the boundaries of the national park are the mountains Sister and Kamenny Brat, which are beloved by tourists, which, moreover, are a natural monument of the same name.

Each of the majestic mountains of the national park has its own sights. On the highest peak of Oblachnaya, in addition to gorgeous views, the traveler will find areas of permafrost. On the slopes of Snezhnaya originates main river Primorye - majestic Ussuri. Peaks Sister and Stone Brother form a grandiose remnant ridge, popularly nicknamed "Dragon's Teeth".

On the slopes of Mount Cloudy. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

From each of these peaks, gorgeous panoramas and picturesque landscapes of the national park open up, and the road to them runs through gorgeous alpine meadows.

The relief of the territory of the national park is notable for its considerable dissection: the elevation changes range from 155 meters (in the valley of the Milogradovka River) to 1854 meters (Oblachnaya Mountain). This feature determines the species diversity of the national park: the local flora has a pronounced altitudinal zonality, changing as you climb. Combined with specific geographical location and climate features, these factors form a truly unique diversity of the plant world.

Snezhnaya Mountain in the National Park "Call of the Tiger". Photo: courtesy of the National Park "Call of the Tiger"

The picturesque Milogradovka River, which is known as the most beautiful river in Primorsky Krai, will amaze tourists with its beauty. A lot of rifts and rapids turning into small waterfalls, the sound of water and stunning surrounding views will make a walk along the river bank unforgettable for its participants.

A traveler who finds himself here first finds himself in cedar-broad-leaved forests, then, as he ascends, into dark-coniferous spruce-fir taiga, which, with increasing altitude, is replaced by stone-birch forests. They, in turn, are replaced by thickets of elfin cedar, turning into high-mountain tundra.

Waterfall Divny in the National Park "Call of the Tiger". Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

In each altitudinal zone, you can find many rare species of flora, both modern and ancient Cenozoic, listed in the Russian and international Red Book.

The territory of the national park is characterized by a significant faunal diversity. Almost all rare, endemic and valuable species of mammals of the south of the Far East live here - the Amur tiger, the Far Eastern forest cat, lynx, wild boar, red deer, spotted deer, roe deer, goral, musk deer and many others.

Far Eastern scientists proposed to endow these amazing places with the status of a specially protected natural area back in Soviet times, but at that time no concrete solutions were reached.

But in the middle of the 2000s, the issue of establishing a protected area in the south of Sikhote-Alin was reanimated and in 2007 it was resolved positively. Government Decree on the territory of 82 thousand hectares for the conservation and restoration of natural and historical and cultural complexes and objects, development and implementation scientific methods protection of nature, environmental monitoring, environmental education of the population and creation of conditions for ecological tourism" the national park "Call of the Tiger" was created.

As a separate protected area, the national park did not last long and in August 2014, by order of the head of the Ministry of Natural Resources, it was merged with the Lazovsky State Reserve into the Federal State Budgetary Institution "Joint Directorate of the Lazovsky State Reserve named after L. G. Kaplanov and the National Park "Call of the Tiger".

The unified directorate of the reserve and the national park is developing new ecological routes that can satisfy the needs of everyone who wants to experience the beauty of the southern Sikhote-Alin.

Abode of Red Book Birds - Khanka Reserve

Lake Khanka and the Khanka State Nature Reserve, which is located in its lands, is the "pearl" of the southwestern part of Primorye. The largest lake in the Far East received the status of a specially protected natural area in 1990, and six years later the governments of Russia and China signed an agreement on a single protected zone of the reservoir, uniting two reserves - the Khankai Reserve and the Chinese reserve "Xingkai-Hu".

Views of Lake Khanka. Photo: Dmitry Korobov, Khankai Reserve

The flora and fauna of Lake Khanka is incredibly diverse. The well-known explorer, traveler-naturalist and writer Vladimir Arsenyev wrote about the name of the lake as follows: “During the Liao dynasty, Lake Khanka was called Beiqing-hai, and at present Khanka, Khinkai and Xingkai-hu, which means “Lake of Prosperity and Prosperity”.

The area of ​​the reserve is more than 39 thousand hectares.

Lake Khanka. Photo: Portal "Zapovednaya Rossiya"

334 species of birds live on the territory of the reserve, of which 140 species nest on Lake Khanka, 44 species are listed in the Red Book of Russia, and 12 species are in the International Red Book, most rare species- Japanese and Daurian cranes, red-footed ibis, spoonbill, etc. 74 species of fish, 6 species of amphibians and 7 species of reptiles live in the great lake, the main of which is the Far Eastern Red Book tortoise.

49 rare and endangered species of plants grow on the territory of the reserve, among them the awesome euryal, Komarov's lotus, Schreber's brazenia, etc.

Blooming lotus Komarov. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

Ecological tourism is developing both in the reserve itself and in its environs. The Department of Ecological Education of the reserve offers tourists educational excursions, and numerous recreation centers in its vicinity - a wonderful holiday with fishing.

Coast of Lake Khanka. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

Sea miracle of Primorye - Far Eastern Marine Reserve

The only reserve in Russia, 98% of the area of ​​​​which is a marine area, the Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve can safely claim the title of one of the wonders of Primorye, as the richest in species diversity water area among the seas of Russia.

In 2003, for the conservation of the gene pool of marine and coastal communities, within the framework of the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" program, he was awarded international status.

The Far Eastern Marine Reserve was opened in 1978 to preserve valuable species of shelf inhabitants Sea of ​​Japan. It includes three sections of the water area in the Khasansky District and one section on Popov Island (Pervomaisky District of Vladivostok).

There are more than 2 thousand species of marine animals and plants, including 67 species listed in the Red Book of Russia, and 50 species of birds from the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

According to scientists, more than two thousand spotted seals (largs) live on the territory of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve in Primorye.

The reserve includes the Rimsky-Korsakov archipelago - a complete protected area, Furugelm Island (aquaculture of trepang, giant oyster, scallop is allowed), Posyet Bay and Popov Island - a museum of nature.

Far East Marine Reserve FEB RAS. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

The islands that make up the reserve are its special pride, they emphasize its historical, aesthetic and scientific value.

11 large and small islands, with a total area of ​​1.1 thousand hectares, have a variety of picturesque landscapes that amaze the imagination with the play of colors and pristine beauty. The area of ​​the largest of them - the islands of Bolshoi Pelis, Furugelm and Stenin, reaches almost 400 hectares. The islands are rich in sandy beaches, rocky cliffs, subtropical forests, steppes, swamps, fresh streams. There are miniature freshwater lakes on the islands of Stenina and Bolshoy Pelis.

Far East Marine Reserve FEB RAS. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

Environmental education and the development of educational tourism are among the main tasks of state nature reserves, and the Marine Reserve of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences pays great attention to this.

The reserve implements various forms tourism: cognitive, scientific, educational, mass. The Center for Environmental Education of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve has been working in the field of environmental education and educational tourism for more than 30 years.

Furugelm Island. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

The northern region of the reserve is an educational zone designated for the development of mass tourism. This is a territory on Popov Island, located 30 km south of Vladivostok. There are five overland thematic routes on the island dedicated to botany, biology, geology and history. The best time to visit Popov Island: May - October, but some excursions are held all year round. In addition, there is a unique museum "Nature of the sea and its protection" at the service of tourists on the island.

The southern and eastern sections of the Far Eastern Marine Reserve are intended primarily for scientific work, but at the same time, they are not at all closed to tourism. The objects of display here are geological, archaeological and historical monuments, underwater, coastal and island communities of animals and plants. Bizarrely shaped shores, compositions of rocks and grottoes, graceful arches and kekurs (rocks standing separately in the sea), underwater, coastal and island communities of animals and plants, magnificent sandy beaches bordered by rocks and pine trees, larga seal rookeries, fortifications, parking places ancient man II-I millennium BC e. - business card Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Reserve, the main basis of its tourist attraction. The staff of the reserve conducts a number of unique excursions, which have no analogues in Russia and the world.

Bird market on the island of Furugelma. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Excursion "The southernmost island of Russia" will allow its participants to get acquainted with the unique flora and fauna, saved by the reserve from the anthropogenic impact of Furugelm Island, which, in addition to storing natural resources historical artifacts from different times. Relic plants, bird colonies, unique coastal landscapes, magnificent water transparency - all this will appear before those who decide to visit this excursion.

Furugelm Island. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia, Alexander Khitrov

Boat excursion "Coast of singing pines" covers the coasts of the islands of Bolshoy Pelis, Matveev, Durnovo, as well as the islands of the Rimsky-Korsakov archipelago. Excursion participants will be able to see the majestic kekur Arka (Sail), a complex of caves and grottoes at the southern tip of the Klerk peninsula, picturesque landscapes of densely flowering pine groves densely covering steep rocky islets, a real "village" of spotted seals and much more. The sightseeing tour ends on the border of the reserve - at the islet of the Languishing Heart in the Telyakovsky Bay.

A rookery of spotted seals on Furugelma Island. Photo: RIA PrimaMedia

Excursion "Sand Odyssey" will acquaint visitors with the sights of the southern region of the reserve. Here Cape Falshivyy Ostrovok is connected with the mainland by a unique seventeen-kilometer sand spit, walking along which you can admire natural monuments - the Pigeon Rock Hill, the habitat of many thousands of snakes and the Syudari Hill. The participants of the tour will be able to see the amazing lagoons, where gray herons proudly walk in search of food, and also make a small climb to the magnificent columnar cliffs of the cape, from where breathtaking views open.

The taiga kingdom of the "Russian Amazon" - Bikin National Park

The Bikin National Park, established by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 3, 2015 in the Pozharsky district of Primorye, is the youngest and largest specially protected natural area in the south of the Far East. The territory of the national park covers 1.16 million hectares of forests in the middle and upper reaches of the Bikin River - the "Russian Amazon".

Such an honorable comparison with the greatest river The world of Bikin owes to the largest array of intact cedar-broad-leaved forests spread in its basin in the Northern Hemisphere, with an area of ​​​​more than 400 thousand hectares. The exceptional global significance of this unique section of the Ussuri taiga in Central Sikhote-Alin was confirmed in 2010, when the Bikin Valley was included in the preliminary list of UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sites.

Bikin National Park. Photo: Alexander Khitrov

This is the only major basin where large-scale deforestation has never taken place. This territory is almost not affected by anthropogenic impact, so only here you can get an idea of ​​what the Ussuri taiga looked like until the middle of the 19th century. In the Northern Hemisphere, there are only two nature reserves close in area located in these latitudes - the Olympic National Parks on the Pacific coast of the United States and Gross Morne on Atlantic coast Canada, but they preserve significantly different ecosystems.

The Bikin basin is rich not only in forests. 51 species of mammals and 194 species of birds live on its territory, including those listed in the Russian and international Red Books. There are seven amphibian species, 10 reptile species and over 20 fish species.

Bikin National Park. Photo: Alexander Khitrov

The main faunal wealth of the Bikin forests is the Amur tiger. The Bikin Basin is a key habitat for this rare predator, containing about 10% of the world's population of this tabby subspecies. The "Bikinsky" group of tigers numbers from 30 to 50 individuals, which allows us to consider the national park as a kind of reservoir for the conservation of the subspecies.

In addition to the exceptional environmental significance of the Bikin National Park, it is the main place of residence and traditional use of natural resources by the Udege, the indigenous people of Primorye. This is the first national park in Russia, in whose work the interests of indigenous peoples are fully taken into account. The hunters living on its territory are endowed with special privileges regarding their traditions.

The largest and northernmost predatory cat in the world, the Amur tiger, lives in Russia. The people dubbed the animal by the name of the taiga - the Ussuri or the name of the region - the Far East, and foreigners call the animal the Siberian tiger. In Latin, the subspecies is called panthera tigris altaica. There is no difference, but the official name is still the Amur tiger.

Characteristic

The Amur tiger is a predator from the cat family, the genus Panthera, a class of mammals. Belongs to the species of tigers, is a separate subspecies. The size is almost like a small car - 3 meters, and the weight is three times less - an average of 220 kg. By nature, males are a quarter larger than females.

Rare the animal has thick long hair - it protects from taiga frosts, and black stripes on it mask from enemies. The fur coat of the Amur tiger is not so bright and striped, unlike other subspecies. The color does not change in winter and summer - it remains red, but in winter it is a little lighter than in summer. The animal has rather wide paws - they help to walk in deep snow.

Black stripes serve as a camouflage © Camera trap NP "Land of the Leopard"

Thick wool protects from taiga frosts © Maia C, Flickr.com

The symbol of the Far East is listed in the International Red Book. In the 1930s, hunters exterminated 97% of the Far Eastern tigers. To save the animal from extinction, the state banned hunting for it, and since the 1960s, the number began to grow. For 90 years, the population has increased by 20 times, but this is not enough: the Amur tiger still has the status of a rare animal.

Life expectancy depends on conditions. In captivity, the animal will live up to 20 years because it has a safe home, food and veterinarians. In the wild taiga, the opposite is often the case: frost is -40 ° C, the absence of animals for food, the struggle for free territory, poaching. In freedom, tigers live a happy life, but twice as short - about 10 years. Although this is enough to live longer than their fellow species.

Amur tiger habitat

The Amur tiger lives in the southern part of the Far East. The main habitats are on the banks of the Amur and Ussuri rivers in the Khabarovsk Territory and at the foot of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in the Primorsky Territory. Also, part of the animals is located in the Jewish Autonomous Region.

Some animals live in reserves, national parks and reserves - "Sikhote-Alinsky", "Lazovsky", "Bikin", "Land of the Leopard". Inspectors protect territories from poachers, rescue injured animals. It does not look like a zoo: predators live in free conditions, without restrictions on movement. But there is a problem - there is not enough space for the entire population, and 80% of the subspecies lives in unprotected taiga forests and hunting farms.

Far Eastern tigers choose the cedar-broad-leaved forests of the Ussuri taiga for life. If the cuttings are not stopped, the animals will lose their homes.

In Russia, the largest population of the Amur tiger is the pride of the Far Eastern taiga. Among all subspecies of tigers, Russia ranks second - we have 13% of the world population, the first place remains with India. Sometimes Amur tigers make a cross-border transition: by land or river, they get from Russia to neighboring countries - China or to the north of the DPRK. But this does not prevent our country from leading in the number of individuals.

Nutrition

The tiger is the top of the food chain in the Ussuri taiga ecosystem. This means that the entire Far Eastern nature depends on its numbers: if there is no tiger, there will be no nature. To prevent this from happening, there should be enough ungulates in habitats.

10 kg
a tiger should eat meat a day

The main diet is wild boar, spotted deer, red deer and roe deer. If these animals are not enough, tigers feed on badgers, raccoons, hares, fish, and sometimes overwhelm bears. In severe famine, Amur tigers attack livestock and dogs. But in order to be full and healthy, one tiger still needs fifty ungulates a year.

Lifestyle

Ussuri tigers are solitary in their way of life. The male meets with the female for a couple of days, does not participate in the upbringing of the cubs, and the female also lives her own life when the offspring reaches puberty. Amur tigers even go hunting alone, although it is more difficult to get food.

Amur tigers live for years in one territory, if there is enough food around. And only the factor of its absence can make them make the transition to another place. The territory is assigned to the tiger with odorous marks, scratches in the ground and bullying on trees. So if strangers decide to enter his territory, then only because of arrogant behavior - then a fight will occur.

The Amur tiger hunts around its territory. He sees the victim, crawls closer to her, arches his back and puts emphasis on the ground with his hind legs. If you manage to go unnoticed, after the jump, the predator takes the trophy, but according to statistics, only one in ten attempts is successful.

Amur tigers are solitary in their way of life © Leonid Dubeikovsky, WWF-Russia

The tiger hunts around its territory © Vladimir Filonov, WWF-Russia

1 out of 10 attempts to get food ends in success © Viktor Nikiforov, WWF-Russia

Each cat has its own place: 20 km2 is enough for a female, and 100 km2 for a male in the Far Eastern taiga. Tiger cubs settle in places hidden from strangers, which the mother equips in thickets, crevices and caves. One male has 2-3 females with offspring in the territory.

Amur tigers breed once every two years. After 3-4 months, the tigress hatches from two to four cubs. At first, the mother feeds the cubs with milk, they try meat only at two months. Around the clock, the mother is next to the children only for the first week, then she goes hunting. Until the age of two, the tigress teaches her cubs to get food, they live with her. Tiger cubs become mature by the age of three or four.

Animals show their emotions with sounds and touches. For example, when you need to greet each other, they exhale rhythmically through their mouths and noses. To show sympathy or tenderness, they rub against each other and purr like domestic cats. In irritation, they wheeze and growl softly, in rage they make sounds similar to coughing.

A male has up to 3 females with cubs © Victor Zhivotchenko, WWF-Russia

tiger and man

Relationships with humans are a complex issue for Russian tigers. On the one hand, because of people, they were on the verge of extinction, but thanks to people, the population grew. Population growth also raised a question: now the animals need more space and food. Again, human activity interferes with this through logging, fires and poaching.

Due to the lack of ungulates, predators sometimes come to the villages for cattle and dogs, which disturbs the local residents. Between 2000 and 2016, there were 279 such conflicts in which 33 tigers died. Tigers avoid contact with people: instincts are responsible for hunting wild animals, in rare cases, domestic ones. There are two cases when a tiger reacts to a person - he is injured or he has nowhere to run.

At the same time, local residents help the tigers, but they do not touch people. When the townspeople encounter the beast near the settlements, they call in a task force. Conflict minimization specialists arrive and take the predator to a rehabilitation center. There are two of them in the south of the Far East: Utes in the Khabarovsk Territory and the Tiger Center in Primorye.

In rehabilitation centers, the animals are fed, nurtured, but they are not allowed to get used to captivity - this is how they retain their instincts. Before being released into the wild, predators are put on a GPS collar: it allows specialists to make sure that the animal does not come to people anymore.

Tiger Uporny came to the village of Vyazemsky and crushed three local dogs due to lack of food. Residents did not fight and called inspectors to resolve conflicts. The exhausted predator was taken to the Utes rehabilitation center, and six months later they were released into the taiga, wearing a GPS collar. Thanks to the collar, the staff of the center made sure that the wild instincts did not disappear: Persistent hunted without problems and established contacts with other tigers in the wild, but he no longer came to people.