China is making significant strides in wildlife conservation by implementing advanced technologies to protect the endangered Siberian tigers. Utilizing surveillance drones, smart infrared cameras, and an integrated intelligent monitoring system, Chinese experts are pioneering an early warning system that effectively prevents human-tiger conflicts.
At the 2nd International Forum on Conservation and Recovery of Tiger and Leopard held in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, Markus Radday, a tiger program officer from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), praised these technological advancements. He emphasized that such innovations enable the creation of systems that safeguard both humans and tigers, a feat achievable through collaboration among scientists, institutions, and enterprises.
Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, are primarily found in northeast China and Russia's Far East. Once numbering only 12 to 16 wild individuals in China in 1998, their population has seen a remarkable recovery. Since the 1990s, China has implemented various measures to boost their numbers and restore their natural habitats. Today, approximately 70 wild Siberian tigers inhabit the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, with 20 cubs born last year.
Radday, a German conservationist with 12 years of experience in China, highlighted the country's success in rebuilding the Siberian tiger population and promoting harmonious coexistence between humans and tigers. He stated, \"China is among the five Asian countries making great progress in tiger conservation, and I believe China is a model of mitigating and preventing human-tiger conflicts with cost-effective technologies. This practice could be valuable for densely populated countries like India and Nepal.\"
Other experts share similar sentiments. Nay Myo Shwe from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi in Thailand and WWF-Myanmar underscores the importance of finding new solutions to human-tiger conflicts, especially as wild tiger populations expand and territories grow.
Chris Hallam, WWF regional wildlife lead for Asia Pacific, attributes China's success to the combination of expertise and strong government support. He believes these experiences can benefit Southeast Asian regions where tiger numbers have declined.
With China now home to one of the largest wild tiger populations, the country's efforts not only conserve tigers but also preserve the broader forest ecosystem. As Radday aptly puts it, \"To conserve tigers means conserving so much more, and I hope that China will play a greater role in the tigers' return to the forests.\"
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China builds early warning system for preventing human-tiger conflicts
cgtn.com
