| In situ conservation and ex-situ conservation are two main protection measures of saving endangered species. China combinated these two measures to the conservation of Amur tiger (Panthera Tigris altaica), one of the endangered species in whole world. In situ conservation efforts include establishing nature reserves which are adjacent to Russia and a wide range of forest habitat restoration. China developed ex-situ conservation of Amur tiger from1980’s, and made a good progress. By2012, China has successfully breed3212Amur tiger individuals, accumulated precious data and experience for the conservation of Amur tigers.Using questionnaires, expert scoring method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP), the SWOT analysis method, regression model, we analyzed and evaluated the existing ex-situ conservation experience, focusing on population distribution pattern, breeding management, ancestry recording, disease prevention and control, science education and wilding train. The results are following:(1) In the population genetic management of Amur tigers, the individual identification methods include ear tags, fur features, microchip tags, tracks index, DNA individual recognition. From manual work of the ancestry to the Microsatellite DNA analysis, the ancestry record is more complete, and enhanced genetic biodiversity monitoring, core population building, and breeding management system. This maintained the healthy development of population and increased the genetic biodiversity.(2) The species resource supply of Amur tigers is sufficient, and maintained the sustainable, stable, healthy population with high conservation value. Ex-situ Amur tigers have clear foundation population resource, strict breeding plan and pure descendant. To enlarge the population twice breeding in a year was applied and in latter period core population was developed by DNA technology with the sex ratio around1:1.(3) The reproduction parameters such as parturition age, gestation period long and fetus survival rate of captive Amur tigers have no significant difference with wild tigers, but the parturition interval and cub number are changed by captive condition.(4) Diseases are the important factors threatening wild Amur tigers, captive tigers and big feline population and development. The disease research of captive tigers is very important, and can be used in the disease control and prevention of wild population in the future. In addition to the basic equipment and laboratory facilities, medical technology need to be constantly improved, and the Amur tiger disease dignosis also need cooperation with scientific research institutions in China and international to conquer scientific disease problem, and to establish professional scientific research team.(5) In ex-situ environment, if tiger dung can’t be disposed effectively, it will cause the air, water and soil pollution, and spread disease. Our study found that tiger dung can be used as organic fertilizer, whose organic matters, moisture contents, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total potassium content are higher than other livestock. Its PH value tend to be neutral, meets the requirements of microbial fermentation. Tiger dung can improve the content of nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, improve soil fertility. The wise utilization of tiger dung can produce significant economic and social benefits.(6) In the process of wilding, the response of captive tigers to prey species has no significant difference, they have no special preference for live prey, such as chickens, pigs, sheep, and cattle. In the process of wilding training, the tiger can develop predation reaction on prey by active pursuit. Through the preliminary training of three years, captive Amur tigers changed from never hunting prey to take the initiative to hunting initiatively, its predation ability has greatly improved, feeding efficiency also continue to increase as the extension of wilding time.(7) Artificial breeding Amur tigers, especially the caged tiger individual in exhibition area whose living space is narrow, forage for beef and mutton, constantly live in the noisy environment and closely contact with visitors. So the captive conditions greatly reduce the tension and fear, and lead to the loss of predation, alert, concealment and other activities. Half range Amur tigers have a large space, lower probability of direct contacting with people, and often have the opportunity to live prey, therefore their alert level and response ability to the environment changes enhanced. Studies showed that there were no significant differences between the reaction of different gender and age Amur tiger.(8) After nearly20years of development, the popular science education base and propaganda practice of ex-situ conservation of Amur tigers has made great progress. Diversified education patterns were applied in popular science education. To develop Amur tiger adoption activity, the theme is distinct and characteristic. Amur tiger watching tourism, on the one hand, has played a function of popular science education, on the other hand, the tourism industry become a very promising project, which can boost the local economy and is the important measures to raise tiger protection funds.(9) Using management effectiveness evaluation framework we evaluated the ex-situ conservation of Hengdaohezi feline breeding research center in China, the results showed that the ability of management effectiveness was good overall. But state and local funding is insufficient, limit the infrastructure construction and management level. Poor capital channel, shortage of funds is the biggest obstacle of the development of the center. In addition Amur tiger wilding training and reintroduction in this center need to be further strengthened.(10)The wilding is a long process. The wilding fields will be constructed in the absence of Amur tiger reserve, combined with the connotation of Amur tiger conservation, the wilding fi eld need to be established in the nature reserve. How to establish the overall layout, training fi eld facilities are explain ed in this paper, theoretical system management evaluation consists of3stages,6levels,16subsystems,50indicators,180two level indexes to evaluate the effective management area, wilding field in natural protection for the future. |
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