Hunchun-beachhead.

Hunchun Nature Reserve (HNR) and adjacent forests along the China-Russia border represent the most important habitat in northeast China for both Amur tigers and Amur leopards, which are classified as “endangered” and “critically endangered” by the IUCN, respectively. This region effectively functions as a “beachhead” through which tigers and leopards disperse from Russia to China, with some then dispersing westward deeper into the continent. The steady increase in records of tiger presence and activity in the Hunchun Nature Reserve over the past few years and the recent captures by camera-traps of tigers and leopards in HNR are positive signs of potential recovery of the tiger and leopard in northeast China.

Anti-poaching patrol within HNR.

Current threats to tiger and leopard conservation in Hunchun Nature Reserve include habitat loss and fragmentation, poaching, and human-wildlife conflict due to increasing livestock farms. The latter two are the greatest direct conservation threat to tigers in China and therefore the highest priority. Securing the safety of tigers, leopards and ungulates in the Hunchun region is vital to foster the return and recovery of tigers and leopards in the landscape of northeast China.

Our team has worked on tiger conservation in northeast China for a decade, during which time we have made steady progress in expanding and improving law enforcement efforts, working with government agencies, and assisting local communities to improve livestock husbandry techniques that reduce disturbance and alleviate human-tiger conflict. To date, our work has shown that the persistence of illegal poaching is significantly linked to a lack of education, awareness, and weak law enforcement capacity. This project aims to create a snare removal campaign that will encourage local communities, government, and media involvement, as well as strengthen the capacity of law enforcement officials to confront poaching.

Ultimately this will assist in ensuring a sustainable future for Amur tigers and leopards.