Friday, 1 March 2013

RID 2450 - ROTARACT CLUB OF LAU BYBLOS

Siberian Tiger:
In a capitalist world, the move towards industrialization and development seems to dominate over the importance of the ecosystem. As a result, deforestation and extinction of a lot of animals took place. In an effort to stop this phenomenon from recurring, global efforts are made to protect the various species that are now on the endangered list.

For example, the Siberian Tiger, also known as Amur Tiger is one of the many animals that are highly declining in numbers. In 2005, there were 331-393 adult sub-adult Siberian tigers in this region, with only a breeding adult population of about 250 individuals. The population has been stable for more than a decade due to intensive conservation efforts, but partial surveys conducted after 2005 indicate that the Russian tiger population is declining! The Siberian tiger is reddish-rusty or rusty-yellow in colour, with narrow black transverse stripes. The fur of the Siberian tiger is moderately thick, coarse and sparse compared to that of other felids living in the former Soviet Union. It is mainly found in Russia with some found in China and it is the largest living felid and ranks among the biggest felids to ever exist. 
Siberian tigers reach sexual maturity at four years of age. They mate at any time of the year. Two or four cubs are usually born but there can be as many as six. The cubs are born blind in a sheltered den and are left alone when the female leaves to hunt for food. Cubs are divided equally between genders at birth. However, by adulthood there are usually two to four females for every male. The female cubs remain with their mothers longer, and later they establish territories close to their original ranges. Male cubs, on the other hand, travel unaccompanied and range farther making them more vulnerable for attacks.
The decline of this extraordinary species is mainly caused by poaching; the illegal hunting of tigers in the area is the reason they are at risk of extinction. Plus, in the past, the building of railroads seemed to cut off the population in specific parts thus confining it to a limited area and number.

Recommendations for Conservation:
Awareness on the effects of poaching and the risk of extinction of this species is the key solution to save these amazing animals. Plus, further measures have been taken to ensure the survival of tigers and their safety.
Tigers are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix I, banning international trade. Furthermore, in 1992, the Siberian Tiger Project was founded, with the aim of providing a comprehensive picture of the ecology of Siberian tiger and the role of tigers in the Russian Far East through scientific studies. By capturing and outfitting tigers with radio collars a lot of data is gathered concerning the way they live. These data compilations will hopefully contribute toward minimizing poaching threats due to traditional hunting. The Siberian Tiger Project has been productive in increasing local capacity to address human-tiger conflict with a Tiger Response Team, part of the Russian government’s Inspection Tiger, which responds to all tiger-human conflicts.
In August 2010, China and Russia agreed to enhance conservation and cooperation in protected areas in a Tran’s boundary area for Siberian tigers. China has undertaken a series of public awareness campaigns including celebration of the first Global Tiger Day in July 2010, and International Forum on Tiger Conservation and Tiger Culture and China 2010 Hunchun Siberian Tiger Culture Festival in August 2010.
In December 2010, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS Russia) and Phoenix Fund initiated a project in co-operation with the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) to improve the protection of tigers and prey species in four key-protected areas. 

Rotaract Club of LAU Byblos – RID 2450, LEBANON

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