Amur Tigers Conservation Success

• Boris and Svetlaya were rescued as cubs when they were between 2 and 3 months old.
• The conservation center aimed to raise the tigers with minimal human contact to ensure they retained their natural instincts.
• In order to develop their hunting skills, Boris and Svetlaya were given live prey such as rabbits and goats
• The two tigers were released into separate areas of the Primorsky mountain range to help disperse their population.
• A year after their release, researchers observed Boris traveling 400 miles north to reunite with Svetlaya.
• Boris and Svetlaya's reunion led to the birth of cubs
• The scientific findings regarding their release and successful reproduction were published in the journal Nature in November 2024.
• Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are the largest of all tiger subspecies.
• These tigers are well adapted to harsh winter environments and can survive temperatures as low as -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Due to conservation efforts, the Amur tiger population has increased to approximately 600 individuals in the wild.
• The decision to release Boris and Svetlaya separately was intended to maximize their chances of finding suitable territories.
• One of the major threats to Amur tigers, besides habitat loss, is poaching.
• Scientists closely monitored the released tigers to ensure they could track their movements and health.
• The ability of Boris to track Svetlaya over 100 miles suggests that tigers have exceptional navigation skills.
• The success of Boris and Svetlaya's reunion indicates that rescued tigers may be capable of successful reintroduction into the wild.
• The reunion of Boris and Svetlaya challenges previous conservation strategies by demonstrating that long-distance relocation is possible.
• The term "reintroduction" in conservation biology refers to the process of releasing animals into areas they previously inhabited.
• Zolushka's story supports the conservation center's strategy because it shows that rescued and rehabilitated tigers can successfully reproduce in the wild.
• The presence of Boris and Svetlaya's offspring in the wild suggests that conservation programs may be effective in increasing the population size.
• Amur tigers blend into snowy environments due to their thick, white-colored fur with dark stripes.

Application and Critical Thinking

• If Boris had not successfully reunited with Svetlaya, it is likely that he would have struggled to find a mate.
• One major risk of releasing tigers into the wild is that they might not survive due to poaching or habitat loss.
• Conservationists might use Boris and Svetlaya's story to support future policies aimed at expanding protected areas for tigers.
• If the method of reintroducing rescue tigers proves consistently successful, it could lead to an increase in the genetic diversity of the wild population.
• Tracking the movement patterns of Boris and Svetlaya helps researchers understand how tigers use their habitat and interact with each other.
• The fact that Boris traveled a nearly straight-line path to find Svetlaya suggests that tigers use a combination of scent and memory to navigate long distances.
• Poaching has historically been a major cause of the Amur tiger's decline because their pelts and body parts is highly valued on the illegal market.
• If conservation efforts were discontinued, Amur tigers would likely face extinction.
• One ethical concern regarding captive-raised tigers being released into the wild is that they may lack the necessary survival skills.
• If global temperatures continue to rise due to climate change, Amur tigers may struggle because their habitat will be affected.