More than 100 Chinese volunteers will clear traps set by illegal poachers to ensure that endangered Siberian tigers are not threatened during the winter in their home territory in northeast China.
The trap-clearing campaign is being jointly sponsored by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), a New York-based non-profitable organization, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and local wildlife conservation authorities in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in northeast China.
From Jan. 21 to 25 volunteers will clear iron wire ring traps -- set by poachers to catch Siberian tigers during the winter -- from areas where tigers roam.
Since Nov. 30, eighty people from Jilin, Heilongjiang, Beijing and Shanghai have signed up to help clear the traps. They include teachers, college students, and company workers.
According to a WCS source, the volunteers, aged between 20 and 45, should be animal protectionists, in excellent health condition, have experience of fieldwork and have the mental strength to deal with the harsh environment.
Siberian tigers, also known as Amur or Manchurian tigers and among the world's 10 most endangered species, live in northeast China and the Far East area of Russia. Of the 400 estimated to live in the wild, only 10 to 17 live in northeast China.
Although the Chinese government has stepped up efforts to protect the magnificent but endangered species, poachers continue to try to catch the large cats in order to sell their hides.
Statistics show that more than 300 Siberian tigers were hunted in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in the 35 years from 1949-1984. There have been frequent reports of illegal poaching in the two provinces in recent years.
The WCS source said the purpose of launching the trap-clearing campaign is to raise public awareness of the need for better protection of Siberian tigers.
|
Director: Liu Chi