Siberian tiger tracks found inside reserve

The tracks of a Siberian tiger have been photographed at a nature reserve in Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang province, that is far from the China-Russia border.

According to the provincial Forestry Bureau, the Siberian tiger, an adult male, weighs from 150 to 200 kilograms. Paw prints of the tiger were photographed on Thursday at the Xiaobeihu National Nature Reserve, which connects the world's two largest Siberian tiger habitats.

Guan Yun, director of the bureau's Protection Department, said that finding the Siberian tiger in the reserve indicates that the endangered species living in the wild of China's inland area is making a comeback.

"A farmer living near the reserve reported that more than 10 boars he raised had disappeared since August," said Guan. "Judging from the many tiger paw prints found nearby, it is a Siberian tiger that has been living in the area for a long time.

"The tiger is familiar with the local environment, because instead of going straight to the sty, a newcomer would move around and circle around the prey."

A panel of experts has been sent to follow and monitor the Siberian tigers at the Xiaobeihu National Nature Reserve.

Siberian tigers, also known as Amur or Manchurian tigers, are the largest cats living in the wild. They mainly live in East Russia, Northeast China and northern parts of the Korean Peninsula.

The Siberian tiger was classified as one of the world's 10 species most at risk in 2008. About 500 Siberian tigers are believed to remain in the wild.

According to the Heilongjiang Forestry Bureau, from 30 to 50 Siberian tigers now live in the southern habitat, which covers a national park in Russia and the Laoye and Zhangguangcai mountains in China.

The northern habitat has about 400 to 500 tigers and covers Russia's Sikhote-Alin Mountains and China's Wanda Mountains, the bureau said.