SIBERIAN TIGER

A BEAUTIFUL ANIMAL. 
HOW CAN YOU KILL IT?

The Siberian tiger is the largest of the big cats and most graceful of all animals. Regretfully it is heading for extinction.

The Siberian tiger has larger areas of white than the other tigers, mainly on his chest and belly. In winter it grows a longer and thicker coat. Males have a ruff wound their neck

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Since its number is decreasing it is mainly found in the forests of Ussuriland. This area is a least 4,000 km east of Russia. It can be found in the Amjur river basin and in an area between China and North Korea. The foothills are covered with snow for about four to five months and temperatures drop to -20C or even to -40C.

Siberian tigers cover themselves with a 5cm fat over their bellies and flanks. This helps to survive this harsh condition and also gives energy when needed.

DIETS

The adults live mostly solitary hunt in their territory. They search for hoofed mammals like Ussuri sika deer, Amal goral, musk deer and even Ussuri black bear. It is know that it prefers above all other wild boars. They can weigh up to 340kg and have tusk which can give its enemies wounds with fatal consequences.

The tiger approach it very cautiously and tries to get as close as possible then it springs on the boars back and bite into its neck. Siberian tigers are equipped with powerful canine teeth and can crash a spine, sever a jugular vein or spinal cord. However, most of the time the tiger crushes its windpipe and it dies of suffocation. It drags his kill into bushes where he can eat it in peace and quietness.

Also Ussuriland is the tiger’s last stronghold but it still losing out because of deforestation.  The loss of oak and cedar trees had also an effect on wild boars. Since the trees have gone the wild boar lost the acorns and cedar cones to feed on. Therefore the population is fall and the tiger had to prey on other animals. It prowls about farm and this brings it into conflict with man. They have been seen in city suburbs of Vladivostok which is very sad knowing it is nothing but desperation.

A very sad story of a tiger took up in a clump of trees and made it its home. Tigers are so elusive that nobody knew or realised it was there. It became obvious when a number of dogs went missing. The residence objected, of course, and even so it is the symbols of Vladivostok it didn’t get him out of trouble. It was a four-year old male and the authority shot him.

Tiger are not know to attack human but when they have young ones they will to protect them.

THEIR WAY OF LIFE

Male tigers to not help with bringing up their young. They are very solitary and only seen in female company when she is in oestrus and receptive for mating. After about three- and-a-half months later she gives birth to two to four cubs in a very well hidden den. They suckled at first but when they can eat solid food the mother brings it to their den.

The female is more social than the male. Till the cubs can hunt for themselves they travel as a family for about two to three years in a territory of 15 to 20 sqkm. They keep patrolling and hunting till the cubs are old enough then they leave their mother and claim a territory for themselves.

TIGER AND MAN

When the communist was in power in Russia the tier was protected by Law. Since their collapse Ussuriland established commercial links with South Korea, Japan and China. Preciously foreign timber companies were banned from the Soviet Union. Since the collapse the Foreign timber companies cut down an area of four million hectares.

Japan and Korea are defying the country’s protection law. Most of all the Ussuri people themselves are the most offensive one.  Poaching is quite common since the Black-Market brings high prices for skin, bones claws for Chinese medicine. These products are openly announced on radio and posters round the city.

CONSERVATION

Till recently it was assumed that there were about 200 wild tigers. Nowadays is very questionable. Nobody dare guessing. However, it is feared by conservationists that ht Siberian Tigers is close to extinction. It was though of to breed them in captivity for the demand of bones and other parts for Chinese Medicine since the tiger breeds extremely well in order to preserve the wild tiger.