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Conservation in China

You can read about Amur leopard conservation activities in China here.

 

WCS and WWF helped to establish the Hunchun Nature Reserve (122,000 hectares) in 2001. Although very narrow, the reserve is the largest protected area in the Amur leopard's range, and it is adjacent to protected Amur leopard and tiger habitat in Southwest Primorye in Russia. The Hunchun reserve was recently upgraded from provincial to national status. WCS is assisting Hunchun Reserve to improve anti-poaching efforts and implement a database on anti-poaching efforts that will assist in assessing effectiveness, and provide feedback on where greater efforts can be better focused.(© Tigis). WCS China has been working with the Hunchun reserve on tiger and leopard conservation since its establishment in 2001. On the photo volunteer students distribute conservation flyers to local villagers. (© WCS) Ungulate densities are still lower in Hunchun than across the border in Russia, mainly due to large numbers of snares in the forests. As a result tigers often kill livestock, most frequently horses and cows. (© WCS) WCS provided camera-traps to Hunchun reserve staff that were placed near livestock kills. This resulted in several photos of tigers, probably the first photos ever made of tigers in the wild in China (photo: Amur tiger eating a cow, January 2004). (© WCS) Horses and cows are the most common livestock in the Hunchun area and these large animals are unsuitable prey for Amur leopards. To date no livestock kills by Amur leopards have been recorded. (Photo: Amur tiger eating a cow, January 2004). (© WCS) WCS and the reserve staff started a livestock compensation programme with funds provided by 21st Century Tiger. All livestock kills made since the reserve started recording them in 2002 were compensated. (Photo: official launch of the compensation programme in 2004). (© WCS) A total of 79 kills were recorded between 15 July 2002 and and 30 July 2005. Presently Chinese authorities compensate the total value of livestock that is killed. (Photo: official launch of the compensation programme in 2004). (© WCS) Villagers receive compensation for a livestock kill. (© WCS) Social surveys showed remarkable improvements in the attitude of local villagers towards the reserve and conservation after the compensation programme had been estbablished (Photo: Social survey interview). (© WCS) WCS'education programme also contributed to improved conservation awareness and attitudes. (Photo: conservation issues are discussed with local villagers). (© WCS) A number of WCS education projects target school children. (Photo: award ceremony of a conservation essay competition) (© WCS) School children eager to answer questions about conservation. (© WCS) School children receive educational materials. (© WCS) Conservation education in a class room. (© WCS) Training workshop for village heads where WCS provides information about the reserve and conservation, and methods to prevent livestock kills and damage to crops by ungulates. (© WCS) A volunteer group entertains the guests at conservation meetings. The volunteers sing songs with conservation themes. (© WCS) Volunteer group at conservation meeting. (© WCS) Conservation presentation for local villagers. (© WCS) Villager reading a reserve conservation newsletter that was produced with funds provided by 21st Century Tiger and WCS. (© WCS) WCS operates a snare removal programme in co-operation with the reserve staff. More than 6.000 snares have been removed since the reserve was established. Volunteers from all over China are invited to participate in snare removal. This programme receives much media attention and helps to increase awareness of the problem. (Photo: snares and a leopard skin found in a forest cabin). (© WCS) WCS is developing leopard, tiger and ungulate monitoring protocols and coordinating training programmes for Hunchun Reserve staff. Initial monitoring activities indicate that tigers and leopards populations have already started a recovery process. (Photo: Amur tiger track in Hunchun Nature Reserve, © WCS)