The population of tigers in the world has grown by 40 percent in 12 years and has reached about 5k

Source: Andrey Grachev

The forum was held in Vladivostok on September 5th. The participants summed up the results of the global predator recovery program over the past 12 years - since the first tiger summit.

“Since 2010, the total number of these exceptionally beautiful predators has increased by 40 percent around the world,” said Russian President Vladimir Putin in a video message to the participants of the second forum.

Russia also has something to be proud of, he noted. So, if 12 years ago, no more than 390 adult Amur tigers lived in our Far Eastern taiga, now there are about 750 of them, together with cubs, the president said.

However, according to Putin, despite the efforts made over the years, tigers have disappeared in a number of countries, and in some states the predator's life remains under threat. That is why it is so important to strengthen international cooperation and exchange of experience with countries that have succeeded in the conservation of the tiger. In particular, India, Nepal, Bhutan and China, where tiger population is growing, he said.

The Minister of Justice of the Russian Federation, the head of the Supervisory Board of the ANO Amur Tiger Center, Konstantin Chuichenko, said at the forum that Russia today has reached an important number of Amur tigers and now it is necessary to expand its habitat.

“We have created a serious protection system, primarily for the Amur tiger, but I would like to make a point right away that the tiger is the top of the ecological system and the food chain. Therefore, while protecting the tiger, we cannot but think about the ungulates that make up its diet, and, accordingly, we should think about the taiga, the forest, which represents the habitat of the tiger,” the minister said.

Answering journalists' questions, he said that today the total number of tigers in the world reaches about five thousand individuals.

The tiger forum in Vladivostok was attended by representatives of India, North Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, Nepal and Kazakhstan. The forum kicked off with the opening of the tiger house - an exposition displaying the habitats of the tabby cat, presenting the measures for the protection and preservation of the animal.