A Sino-Russian joint research laboratory dedicated to the conservation of Siberian tigers was established on Thursday at Northeast Forestry University in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province.
The lab, bringing together over 20 experts from both countries, is co-developed by China’s Feline Research Center of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration and the Institute of Ecology and Evolution A.N. Severtsov of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Focusing on areas such as wildlife ecology and management, Siberian tiger feeding and breeding, and wildlife genetics, the lab aims to deepen scientific collaboration and enhance conservation efforts for this endangered species.
Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, are among the largest cats on Earth. They primarily inhabit the birch forests of eastern Russia but are also found in northeast China and possibly the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). As one of the world’s most endangered species, their population in China had dwindled to just over ten individuals by the end of the 20th century.
Due to their frequent cross-border movements between China and Russia, cooperation between the two nations is crucial. “The joint efforts will significantly contribute to the restoration and protection of Siberian tiger populations,” said Liu Ming, an associate researcher from the International Society of Zoological Sciences.
In recent years, Heilongjiang Province has established several nature reserves to protect Siberian tigers, Amur leopards, and other wildlife. Initiatives such as forest protection, wetland restoration, and strict enforcement against illegal activities harming wildlife have led to effective restoration of these rare and endangered animals.
In 2010, China and Russia signed a cooperation agreement to protect Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, underscoring the importance of bilateral efforts in wildlife conservation.
“The establishment of the joint lab will foster an international scientific research team dedicated to endangered animal conservation,” said Jiang Guangshun, director of the laboratory’s expert committee. “It will further deepen theoretical and technical exchanges on Siberian tiger protection and strengthen data sharing.”
Reference(s):
China, Russia launch joint lab on Siberian tiger conservation
cgtn.com
