Status Of Amur Tiger And Prey Population In Hunchun Nature Reserve, China And Conservation Research

Amur tiger has become very endangered (Panthera tigris altaica), however there are few related researches in China. The Author carried out conservation and systematic research on tiger population, prey population, livestock depredation and human-tiger conflict in Jilin Hunchun National Nature Reserve from 2003-2008. Based on the results, she concluded problems tigers conservation work are facing and proposed suggestions accordingly.To learn more about tiger population and its trend, the Author conducted a preliminary monitoring of Amur tiger collaborated with Jilin Hunchun National Nature Reserve and analyzed tiger occurrence frequency, number, sex and age ratio according to monitoring data from December 2001 to December 2006. Until end of 2006, a total of 93 tiger occurrence has been recorded, one is cub. Footprint records show, from 2002-2006 there are 3-7, 8-14, 5-9,4-7, 5-7 times tigers appear separately, could be different individuals. From field survey in 2003-2005, there are probably 7 tigers in that area. Besides, number of male tiger is much more than number of female tiger, which might result from male tiger tends to disperse and hunt livestock.To learn situation of prey population in Hunchun Nature reserve, the author set transects in areas tiger occurred frequently in winter of 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 and calculated prey density according to FMP formula. Results show: in winter of 2006-2007, density of sika deer is 0.039/km~2, red deer 0.010/km~2, roe deer 0.533/km~2, and wild boar 0.051/km~2; in winter of 2007-2008, density of sika deer is 0.049/km~2, red deer 0.097/km~2 , roe deer 0.321/km~2 and wild boar 0.048/km~2 . The author also compares ungulate survey results with different methods in Hunchun nature reserve and analyzed their advantages and disadvantages.Sicnce establishement of the reserve, livestock loss has become a serious problem. There were 126 cases in which Amur tigers attacked 204 cattle, horses and dogs between December 2001 and 2007. From 2002-2007, livestock losses generally increased, with major increases in 2007. Livestock depredation mainly occurred between April and September. Results suggest no preference for specific domestic animals. Tigers rarely attacked livestock that were less than 1km from a village, and human disturbance affected utilization of livestock and tiger behavior associated with moving carcasses. Estimated 16,079 kg livestock meat was eaten by tigers. Attacks occurred more often on southern and eastern aspects, lower altitudes, less slope, greater canopy density, closer to villages and rivers, and farther from roads. Removal of snares in the forest and elimination of new snares is vital to increase ungulate population, which so reduce tiger dependence on livestock. Better livestock husbandry techniques and reduction of livestock within Hunchun Reserve can greatly reduce the rate of depredation by tigers. Besides, avoiding disturbance of sites where tigers have already made kills is likely to reduce rate of killing in some extent.Since livestock loss caused by tiger is increasing, human-tiger conflict was also enhanced in the reserve. In order to reduce human-tiger conflict, a compensation project was first implemented in Hunchun Nature Reserve since 2004. An evaluation was carried out before and after the compensation in nine villages with five aspects questionnaires and a follow-up survey was conducted in 2007. Results show that tiger conservation effort doesn't affect much of the safety and income of local people, but it may cause continually increasing livestock kills and become a main problem in the conflict. Snares can kill both tiger and ungulates and might be the in direct reason of livestock loss. The compensation scheme can help to relieve conflict between local people and wildlife but the effect decreases with time. Besides, two factors had significant positive correlation with people's conservation awareness which is whether the interviewed family has livestock loss and whether family's income decrease after the foundation of the reserve. To solve the problem of human-tiger conflict, the authors suggest develop substitute industry and change location of farm and move villages to outside of the reserve, etc.Currently the threats Amur tiger are facing in Hunchun Nature reserve are habitat loss, deterioration and fragmentation, low prey population and snares, etc. The author proposed 15 conservation suggestions including building international corridors and producing land use plan, etc.