Emergency funding helps to keep Russia’s wild tigers fed

The worst floods in 50 years and a shortage of acorns and cedar nuts in the Anyuisky National Park, which is home to about 20 rare Amur tigers, has meant that the predators’ favourite food is struggling to survive.

“The autumn flood water saturated the land and froze solid making it almost impossible for wild boar to forage,” explains DSWF CEO, Sally Case. “What food they can find is low in nutrients and the boar and deer are struggling to fatten up for the harsh winter ahead where average temperatures plummet to an icy -40°C. The grant will buy 80 tons of forage, enough to feed the boars for the next four months.”

A tiger without enough food is a dangerous animal. Not only could hunger lead to starvation but it also drives tigers closer to human settlements in search of easy prey which in turn leads to the killing of livestock and domestic animals and retaliatory action. Reports of several dogs being attacked by a tiger in one Russian village have already made the Russian newspapers and led to the authorities trying to scare the animal away. If that fails, attempts will be made to capture the tiger and move it to a rehabilitation centre .

“Our aim is to ensure that these magnificent and highly endangered tigers remain wild and free,” adds Sally Case. “The last thing we want is for retaliatory actions to lead to the loss of a tiger. With only about 450 Amur tigers left in the wild every animal is vital for the species survival.”

You can support the Amur tiger this winter by donating online here or for UK supporters to text TIGR11 £10 to 70070.