Programme Coordinator – Sergei Khlupin, Moscow Zoo, Russia
The goal of the programme is to maintain a stable breeding ex situ population of Amur tigers at EARAZA zoos and breeding centres (ex situ population that can be used for the supplementation of the wild population, if necessary), which is one of the strategic components of the conservation of the subspecies.
The Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is native to the Russian Far East, Northeast China, and possibly North Korea. According to the 2021–2022 survey, the numbers of Amur tigers in Russia reached more than 750 individuals. The main threat to the survival of tigers is habitat loss caused by excessive logging.
Main objectives of the programme:
- coordinated breeding of tigers, including breeding for the use of offspring for potential reintroduction project;
- development of optimal parameters of enclosure complexes (structure, design, equipment, etc.) intended for year-round long-term housing of Amur tigers under various climatic conditions;
- development of principles and methods of establishing groups of tigers in enclosures;
- optimization of standard methods for raising tiger cubs;
- development of zoo diets for Amur tigers, based on the age, sex, and individual characteristics of animals;
- development of requirements for the transportation of tigers;
- genetic monitoring of the ex situ population of the Amur tiger;
- participation in the development and implementation of the Amur tiger reintroduction project, if necessary.
