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Chloe Babb
7/6/16
Biology 1615
Article Summary
Introduction
Over the last few years the population of wild tigers has dropped significantly. It is
reported that there is less than 3,200 in the world. It is estimated that between 430-500 wild
tigers reside along the Russian and Chinese boarder. The Russian and Chinese government have
realized the dramatic drop in the tiger population and have decided to be proactive in helping the
tigers survive and to increase the tiger population. Their overall goal is to double the number of
the tiger population by 2022. They decided the best way to achieve this goal is to hire scientists
and researchers to research the land and the tigers natural habitat. Their goal is to create large
scale tiger conservation landscapes (TCLs) Their research was to develop landscapes that would
support the growth and development of the tiger population. They hope that the outcome of their
research can help save the tiger populations worldwide.
Materials and Methods
Three separate models were made to demonstrate the best possible TCL. One was made
and demonstrated by the Russian governments scientists, the second was made and demonstrated
by the Chinese governments scientists, and final was made and demonstrated by expert animal
conservationists. They ultimately combined all three models to make a shared TCL.
Some of the tests they conducted were tiger track data collection, digital elevation model,

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snow measured through MODIS satellite, human use data, and math equations for potential tiger
population numbers in TCLs. The snow was measured in Russia where tigers already reside, to
determine what weather conditions are suitable for the tigers. They studied the current elevation
of tiger populations and compared them to possible TCLs. The used the data of human
population to determine where the TCLs should be located. It was an already preconceived idea
to keep the tiger population away from the human population to avoid conflict and possible
poaching attacks.
Results
The results of their various tests showed that tigers prefer areas with a higher mean slope,
deciduous forests, large distance from human population, lower frequency of humans coming
into contact, and little to no human roads/trails. Their results also confirmed that extrapolation
from Russian to China is good for the tigers. Through their mathematical equations and
evaluations there were able to estimate how many tigers could potentially live in designated
TCLs. However, it is only an estimation and will have to await further research and practice to
determine actual results. What was surprising about the research was the ability to pull together
three different models to create one solution that worked best for the tigers and each party
involved. It proves that possible correlation and cooperation can be possible.
Discussion
The results of their research proves that saving the population of wild tigers is possible.
They have proven with relocation into suitable areas has the potential to save and increase the
tiger population in Russian and China. Our results suggest. a viable opportunityto meet its
commitments of recovering Amur tigers by the year of the tiger, 2022 (Hebblewhite, et al.,

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2012). This is a big win for all parties involved, especially the tigers. However, they do feel like
more research is need to produce an accurate hypothesis of how the tigers will survive in the
TCLs. They do fear that they have possibly overestimated how the tigers will survive in the
TCLs because of a lack of information.
There was a noticeable lack of information, because tigers mainly reside in the Russian
boarder so it is hard to say how they will survive once they have been moved farther into China.
A lack of information also came from trying to incorporate three different partys ideas of what is
the best TCL. However, all parties have concurred to performing more research after tigers have
been relocated into China.

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Bibliography
Hebblewhite, M., Zimmerman, Z., Miquelle, L. D., Zhang, M., Sun, H., Morschel, F., . . .
Chunquan, Z. (2012). Is There a Future for Amur Tigers in a Restored Tiger Consevation
Landscape in Northeast China? . Animal Conservation , 579-592.