Russian leader gives big boost to the International Tiger Forum-
Vladimir Putin has been making quite a name for himself in recent years as a man of outdoor activity, and one not afraid of large carnivores. He hopes to save the tiger from extinction. The International Tiger Forum hopes to raise an astonishing $350-million for tiger conservation with his help and others such as head of the World Bank, Robert Zoellick.
Perhaps the weenies of the West (politicians in the interior Western United States) might emulate him when it comes to powerful impressive animals.
Can Vladimir Putin save endangered tigers? The Week
The article above says Russia sees the tiger as a symbol of national strength. Around here it seems to be the cow, or, more likely, the sheep.
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Update: Russia, China pledge to save the tiger. By Alissa de Carbonnel. News Daily
Comments
For those of you who are interested in reading more about the Russian tigers, this book recently came out:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/12/1818361/poachers-fatal-meeting-in-a-russian.html
It is the story of hunting a man killing tiger, but there is a lot more to the story than just that. The book can be a bit tedious at times but it does open a door to that corner of the country that we rarely enter via the usual western media diet.
The U.S could do more with some very basic common sense laws. There have been several bills that have been introduced and passed in the House but stalled in the Senate (Surprise Surprise) that would place restrictions on owning tigers in this country. We first need to know how many there are in captivity. The Russians have been successful at stabilizing certain species of Tiger including the Amur and Siberian. China up until now has not been held accountable for the demand that generates out of Central Asia. Poachers need to be sent a message that they will be shot on sight if caught in the act of poaching, similar to how Leakey approached Eleephant poaching in Africa 25 years ago! If demand is not crushed I’m afraid Tigers will only survive in small isolated reserves where they can be protected with upgraded security details. Another recommended book by Rabinowitz entitled “Life in the Valley of Death is a good book on Tiger Conservation.
William, I believe the amur and siberian tiger are one in the same. Poachers get off far too easy. Fines and short jail sentences are not harsh enough. They need to be punished severely. Tigers in Russia are not the only felines in trouble. The amur leopard is doing worse than the tigers. I believe there are only 30 amur leopards left in Russia. It is time for humans to show they are the stewards of this planet like some of them claim. Put their money where their mouth is.
William, Amur and Siberian tigers are the same subspecies. That being said, saving tigers is such an uphill battle. If you are a poor ranger and someone offers you a massive bribe it would be hard to turn down. The poverty and corruption are what is working against these tigers.
I can hardly say Vlad the Impaler is the Teddy Roosevelt or Also Leopolod of central Asia, but more power to him if he wants to genuinely ” conserve’ Siberian Tigers. Of course, he would only be doing that if h and his oligarch buddies can hunt one safari style now and then . Fine…small price to pay if they seriously increase tiger numbers and hold the habitat. I always figured with Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Safari Club etc that they had a 15 percent ” Premium” of the animals off the top for sport hunting purposes in return for facilitating protection. Cost of doing business with the louts, but worth doing nevertheless.
Don’t hold your breath on any celebs or notables firing up a Rocky Mountain Wolf Foundation any time soon to provide suitable habitat and stable numbers of wolves for us all so they can sport hunt them , too. Somehow, the elitist trophy hunter cabal doesn’t favor many carnivores, does it ? Even though genuine wildlife conservation would almost demand as much . But what a delicious thought….the Rocky Mountain Wolf Foundation. Right there alongside the Wild Turkey clubs, Trout Unlimited, Pheasants, Mule Deer…etc.
Cody, I would join a Rocky Mountain Wolf Foundation. I think we could also use a Rocky Mountain Grizzly Foundation and a Southwestern Jaguar Foundations. Now those would be some good ones to join. Or should it be Gray Wolves Forever?
Jon, the Amur leopard, which overlaps the Amur tiger’s range, is also a very, very threatened speices.
I know Nancy. I mentioned the amur leopard in my last comment to William. there are a few hundred siberian tigers left in Russia and I think around 30 amur leopards. The amur leopard will be gone if something isn’t done to stop poachers from killing them. Same goes for the siberian tigers.
The research (Radio Collar) industry will intensify their efforts to collar all of these endangered cats. I hope they don’t all end up studied to death, like the jaguar, Macho-B.
Or get perpetually harassed by photographers…
Sorry Jon, missed that comment! The Planet Earth DVD series featured the Amur leopard, they were thrilled to be able to capture a female and her cub on film.
No problem Nancy. I believe amur leopards are the biggest out of all of the leopards. Larry, I think collars are good and bad. If a poacher kills an animal and it isn’t collared, no one would know about it, so in that regard, collars can be good.
Maybe in Russia, the poachers will serve the long prison terms they deserve!
Knowing the way that some of those countries do things, they may end up serving a “Life” term!
Maybe that is what’s needed . . . here!
State investigates 7 poachings along N. Idaho road
Associated Press – November 22, 2010 7:34 PM ET
BOISE, Idaho (AP) – The state Department of Fish and Game says a number of big game animals have been illegally killed along a northern Idaho roadway since late October.
The agency says two does, three elk, a mule deer buck and whitetail buck were shot and their carcasses left to waste along a mile and a half stretch of Beaver Slide Road near Kamiah.
Wildlife managers believe the animals were likely shot from the road.
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Kamiah, Oh that’s near the Lolo. My, my!
Ahhh yes…..the anti-wolf, poach-from-the-roadside-while swilling beer crowd appears do have done some of its handy work from the back of the pick-up…if it has four legs, kill it for the thrill of it, and then bitch about the wolves killing all the game in the Lolo.
I hope they can catch them and hang em. What a waste. They should lose their hunting and fishing rights for life along with a hefty fine, jail time wouldn’t hurt either.
Most of those doing the actual killing of tigers in Siberia are extremely poor and poach due to a lack of other options to support themselves and their families. They literally live hand to mouth and survive off the land and wildlife. The threat of fines and jail time is no deterrent when they feel they have no choice. Any real efforts to save the tiger must also address the needs of the people living with them. I suspect Putin and other world leaders might make a show of busting the poor rural folk and not those driving the trade and getting rich of it.
The ones getting rich off poaching are those actually selling the goods. You can likely buy tiger parts in most major American cities, undercover operations have busted many sellers in the local Asian communities. Though most of the demand is overseas, we need more law enforcement (and jail time) directed at the buyers and sellers right here in the US.
I will take this rare bit of good news at face value & assume Putin is interested in saving one of the most beautiful animals in the world. As someone pointed out, the correct name for the Siberian Tiger is Amur that in french means tiger of love (tigre de l’Amour). Would humans describe a wolf as a “wolf of love”. I think it is easier for humans to love big cats than wolves. Why? Because of the Little Red Riding Hood mythology??? Jim Corbett, in his book “Man Eaters of Kumon” describes (in 1910) of hunting and killing a female tiger that killed about 437 humans in a 7 year period. I believe this to be a world’s record for a single animal taking down that many humans.
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-calls-dicaprio-a-real-man/424621.html