The Amur region, spanning the Russian Far East and parts of Northeast China, is a vast, rugged transboundary landscape that serves as the last refuge for the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) and Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis). The region experiences extreme seasonal changes, with harsh winters dropping to -40°C. To survive these conditions, Amur tigers and Amur leopards have evolved thick, dense fur and a layer of fat for insulation during the freezing winters. Their longer, paler coats help them blend into the snowy landscape, while their large paws act like natural snowshoes, allowing them to move efficiently through deep snow.
For centuries, Amur tigers and leopards have been hunted for their valuable fur and body parts or in retaliation for human-wildlife conflict. This threat continues today. Current economic pressures and instability arising from the region’s geopolitical activity can drive local hunters to poach tigers and leopards. Whatever their motivation, poachers can cheaply make and quickly set snares across the forest. These snares can last many years – even long after the poacher has forgotten their location – and can indiscriminately kill tigers, leopards and their prey.
More broadly, the forests have a long history of human use and exploitation, from logging and mining to cattle grazing. These activities have reduced habitat quality for key prey species and, in some cases, displaced them entirely. This degradation remains an important limitation to recovering prey populations that can then support tigers and leopards.
Modern linear infrastructure development, such as roads and railways, is fragmenting habitats and isolating wildlife populations. For species like big cats, these barriers block access to prey, mates, and suitable habitat, threatening long-term survival. Existing wildlife crossings are often ineffective due to poor design or human disturbance, preventing species from repopulating lost habitats.
