° 2013 AnnuAl report ° ConservAtion projeCts in the russiAn FAr eAst

Office 409, 2 Petra Velikogo Street , 690091 Tel: +7 (423) 220-50-53 Fax: +7 (423) 220-50-48 E-mail: [email protected]

Web-site: www.fundphoenix.org Annual report 2013 [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013

BACKGrounD

South of the Russian Far East represents the only area in the world where the Amur tigers and leopards still exist in the wild. The species are listed as Endangered by the IUCN and are on CITES Appendix I for protection status. Protected under the Russian and international laws and regulations, these rare predator populations are still threatened by poaching, habitat destruction, prey depletion and conflicts with people.

For sixteen years the Phoenix Fund, Russian environmental NGO, has been conducting anti-poaching and habitat protection, environmental education and outreach, monitoring of industrial projects, paying compensations for livestock depredation in order to keep stable the Amur tiger and leopard populations.

Below, we are glad to present our final report describing the project activities between January 1 and December 30, 2013. The activities described below are the result of joint efforts of many organizations, both Russian and international, and invaluable contribution of our supporters!

[PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013

news in tiGer poliCy

The year 2013 was declared by Vladimir Putin behind bars. On July 2, 2013, a new article 258.1 as the Year of Environment Protection in Russia. was introduced in the Russian Criminal Code We are glad to witness the ongoing steps by that envisages criminal responsibility for Russian Government to protect Amur tigers and poaching, keeping, acquisition, storage, leopards from extinction. transportation and sale of precious wild animals and water biological resources. Also in July, a First step was made on March 31, 2013 when special fund for Amur tiger conservation was the Russian government increased the formed in Russia at the initiative of Russian compensation due from anyone convicted of President Vladimir Putin. The Fund will be killing or taking from the wild tigers and leopards financed from non-budgetary resources, and other endangered species. According to particularly from grants of the Russian the order, charges for damage, for example, Geographical Society. The Centre of Amur Tiger caused to Amur tiger and Amur leopard have Fund was formed to fulfil the commitments, increased from 500 thousand rubles to 1.1 million which Russia assumed during the International rubles (US$35,000). Tiger Summit in 2010 hosted by Russia in St. Second step was made when Russian Petersburg. President Vladimir Putin submitted a law to On September 19, 2013, Vladimir Putin parliament that would make smuggling of ordered to allot 15 million rubles from the endangered species a criminal offence, presidential reserve fund in 2013 to the meaning those convicted would spend time [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013

Rehabilitation Centre for Tigers and Other Rare in the southwestern Primorye and the creation of Species. As stated in the order published on a united protected area as the main condition official portal of legal information, the funds are for leopard conservation. Additionally, the Far allocated for the maintenance of Amur tigers in Eastern scientists and experts developed a order to ensure their return back to the wild, the detailed action plan for the period up to 2022, purchase of equipment and construction of which was approved on December 13, 2013 at necessary infrastructure. the extended meeting of the Working Group on Rare Species of Large Mammals of Primorye and On November 4, 2013, Russian Prime Minister the Working Group on the Conservation of the Dmitry Medvedev has approved the list of Amur leopard. precious wild animals, birds and fish, which are put on the Red Book or are protected by the We are hopeful that the Russian Government Convention on International Trade of will adhere to a policy of supporting nature Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna. conservation efforts and fulfill its pledges given On November 19, 2013, the Ministry of Natural at the International Tiger Forum in St. Petersburg Resources and Environment of the Russian in November 2010. Federation approved the Amur Leopard

Conservation Strategy in Russia by the Decree #29-p. The new edition of the Strategy is based on the latest data on the biology and ecology of the leopard, on the current experience in protection of the predator and its habitat. The document was urgently needed due to the changes in legislation, socio-economic situation

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Anti-poAChinG AnD hABitAt proteCtion

One of the main threats to the survival of Amur tigers and leopards in Russia is poaching of these big cats and their prey species. That is why one of our top priorities is to improve environmental law enforcement efforts by supporting anti-poaching activities within and outside the protected areas in tiger/leopard habitat.

In 2013 we focused our anti-poaching efforts in the five core tiger breeding areas:

1. 2. Land of the Leopard National Park 3. Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve 4. Zov Tigra National Park 5. Anyuisky National Park

Phoenix has provided anti-poaching units with fuel and spare parts for their patrolling vehicles, incentive payments, as well as training. In 2013 the struggle with poachers was fruitful, and we are happy to share the achievements of the year below.

Table 1. Patrol results in five protected areas in 2012 and 2013

Protected area Patrols Violations Criminal cases Rifles seized 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013 2012 2013

Lazovsky NR 569 861 31 42 2 7 3 7

Land of the Leopard NP 910 1107 189 285 7 37 8 9

Sikhote-Alin NR 488 466 11 25 - 8 - 1

Zov Tigra NP 195 293 27 19 - - - -

Anyuisky NP 114 153 195 191 2 - - 9

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Since 2010, Phoenix Fund, Zoological Society of London and Wildlife Conservation Society have been introducing a Law Enforcement Monitoring Program (MIST) in protected areas of Primorye. Work with MIST enables managers of protected areas to assess both efforts and results of anti-poaching patrols, assess and compare patrol efforts and results across teams, sites and time and allows set new patrol targets. Implementation of MIST in 4 protected areas has resulted in a substantial improvement of the protection in 2011-2012, and in 2013 our program proved that MIST (or upgraded software SMART) patrol monitoring is an excellent tool for improving patrol management and reduce poaching threats to tigers and prey species. Concretely our program produced the following results:

• Patrol monitoring and adaptive patrol management successfully introduced to 4 federally protected areas.

• Patrol efforts substantially increased at all 4 protected areas.

• Anti-poaching results substantially increased at 2 protected areas (Land of Leopard NP and Lazovsky Reserve).

• At all program sites tiger numbers stabilized and at least 2 sites we see the first signs of increasing tiger and leopard numbers (the national parks Land of the Leopard and Zov Tigra).

The patrol monitoring system is based on GIS technology using the software program SMART. All patrol data are linked spatially and can be shown on maps. SMART makes it possible to monitor patrol efforts (e.g. distance covered, time spent on patrols, areas visited) and the results (e.g. the number of confiscated guns or issued fines).

In 2014, we plan to expand the program to other protected areas with Amur tigers, including Ussuriisky Nature Reserve in .

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unMAnneD AeriAl vehiCles

Technology is fast developing, so too when it comes to new effective methods to tackle the poaching problems. Drones (or called UAVs: Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) have been used extensively for a year now in the fight against poaching of rhinos and elephants in Southern Africa. The U.S. military has been using drones for almost 10 years now in high risk territories such as Yemen, Pakistan and Somalia where hostile 'cells' are taken out. This technology can now be used to detect poaching activities, but also for example to locate wild fires - one of the main threats to the survival of the Amur leopards and tigers.

In 2013, Phoenix decided to launch a pilot project in order to assist track and hunt down wildlife poachers and detect forest fires in Land of the Leopard National Park through the use of UAVs. First, the Phoenix’ staff examined the ultramodern and rapidly growing drone market extensively to determine which type is best deployed drones to the extreme conditions in the Russian Far East. In addition to enhance knowledge, a representative of the Phoenix Fund attended an international workshop 'Linking biodiversity conservation science to policy and action', where the use of drones for nature conservation was the central theme.

We did not expect that it could take so much time to start, but we are glad to list our first achievements, namely:

- An Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Forest Firefighting is signed between the Phoenix Fund and Avialesookhrana (Aerial Forest Protection Service);

- Two multicopters and one drone are purchased;

- Staff members of Phoenix were trained to use UAVs trough the flight simulator and in the field.

In 2014, we would like to purchase more drones taking into consideration all shortcomings identified during the first test flights and to hold first workshops on work with UAVs for wardens and rangers of the protected areas.

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eColoGiCAl eDuCAtion AnD outreACh

Phoenix has been continuing its fight for people’s minds trying to conserve rare animals and their habitat by educating local population. We believe that most people get their first knowledge about ecology and develop a sense of respect and caring for the natural environment during their first few years of life, then at primary school they are taught to be responsible towards nature, and shape lifelong attitudes, values, and patterns of behavior toward natural environments. And, educators play a critical role in shaping such attitudes. For many years, the Phoenix Fund has been helping educators to improve their knowledge on local nature and promote nature conservation among children. Children, in their turn, share knowledge they got at kindergartens, schools and eco-centers with their family members. In view of the above, the environmental education and outreach program of the Phoenix Fund includes classes with children and youth as well as lectures with adults including educators.

All areas where Phoenix runs educational programs experienced a stable or increased number of nature-oriented and tiger-friendly events with perfect attendance. By educating local people through explanatory talks, ecological lectures, special events focused on tiger conservation (Tiger Day holiday, Environmental Journalism Awards, art contests, clean-up actions, planting etc.) we are increasing people’s awareness of nature conservation, specifically conservation of the tiger, its prey and habitat.

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We are glad to report that the number of our adherents and supporters has increased:

- Thanks to fruitful cooperation with educators from N. N. Dubinin Boarding School for Gifted Children, a branch of the Vladivostok State University of Economics and Services, in September 2013 as many as 100 students/volunteers helped us organize ecological events and hold a fund-raising campaign aimed at assisting Tiger Rehabilitation Centre;

- During the reported period, some individuals, who sent their donations for rehabilitation of tiger cubs in 2012-2013, have become strong supporters of Phoenix’s nature conservation projects;

- Participation of children and adults in education and outreach programs increased. During the reported period our ecological outreach program reached as many as 15,459 children under 18 years of age.

In 2013, the Phoenix Fund and regional social rehabilitation center for disadvantaged and at- risk children Sail of Hope established close relationship aimed at raising environmental awareness of children from unprivileged families, cultivating a healthy sense of pride and responsibility for preservation of natural resources, and involving children in nature conservation actions. Often, children from unprivileged families are not taught properly and do not get sufficient knowledge from school program, not to mention extra-curriculum information on ecological issues. And such children sooner or later become ignorant towards the environment, do harm to nature, and bring their kids up the same way. Our goal is to show the children the beauty of our nature and make them willing to save natural resources for next generation. From July to December 2013, about 85 children attended seven eco-lessons given by Phoenix at the center. Besides eco-lessons for children, Phoenix also held a series of lectures for 35 young specialists working in 12 orphanages and rehab centers all over Primorye in order to help them teach children to treat nature with love and care. The centers and orphanages were provided by hard copies of reference materials such as “Amur Tiger and Biodiversity of the Ussuriiskaya taiga”, “Nature Is Our Home” and many digital educational materials.

Table 2. Ecological events conducted in 2013

Administrative districts/cities Eco-events (lessons, lectures, Number of children/adults outdoor activities, etc.) Khasan district 62 1,791 Kirovsky district 1 240 Krasnoarmeisky district 298 6,856 135 2,945 100 3,424 Tenreisky district 521 7,346 Partizansky district 2 800 Arseniev 26 3,000 Vladivostok 1 20 3 132 Kabarovsky krai 1 15 Jewish Autonomous Region 1 24 TOTAL 1,151 26,593 [PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013

tiGer DAy - 2013

The Tiger Day Festival is an annual autumn event held by the Phoenix Fund in cooperation with its partners such as International Fund for Animal Welfare, WCS, Amur branch of WWF- Russia, Business Solution and others, and under the auspices of Vladivostok city administration. This year was the 14th annual Tiger Day Festival in Vladivostok.

Traditionally, Tiger Day is held annually on the fourth Sunday of September in accordance with Mayor’s Order № 1501 dated September 24, 2001. The 14th Tiger Day in Vladivostok was celebrated on September 29, 2013. The parade itself comprised 72 units of schoolchildren and university students - over 4,000 brightly colored costumed participants. The parade comprised not only units from Vladivostok, but also from other districts of Primorye. In addition, about 5,000 spectators descended downtown to watch the parade.

This year we decided to use Avatar movie theme ideas before starting decorating our parade unit. Indigenous Na’vi people are unselfish humanoids living in harmony with nature and their lifestyle reflects an ideal ‘human-nature’ system. After the parade, we held a fund-raising event in order to support five orphaned tiger cubs that are kept now at the Rehabilitation Centre for Tigers and Rare Animals and are prepared for return to the wild in 2014. Thanks to kind-heartedness and generosity of local people, we managed to collect 25,357 rubles (about $820).

Also, in September-October, the Tiger Day holiday was celebrated in cities of Primorsky (Lazo, Kirovka, Partizans, , Arsenev, , Ussuriisk and Novopokrovka towns) and Khabarovsky krais.

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Art Contest

For eight years, the Phoenix Fund has been organizing annual art contests for children with the purpose of promoting careful and respectful attitude towards the Amur tiger and Amur leopard at young age. The topic always concerns these big cats. We believe that creating art is a healthy way for children to use their imaginations and to express themselves. Children have a natural affinity for animals and art – both of which can help them develop fundamental skills, values and attitudes. Art helps to give children a voice, encourages open-minded thinking and builds a sense of connection with the natural world.

Since 2006 every year the team of the Phoenix Fund has the difficult – but heart-warming - task of choosing winners from the amazing original artwork submissions that come pouring in from schoolchildren across the Russian Far East. This year was no different: as many as 2,246 children between 5 and 18 years of age sent in paintings – 1,629 tiger drawings and 617 leopard drawings. (Compare: in 2012, Phoenix received 1,389 Amur tiger drawings and 479 Amur leopard drawings)

The best paintings were selected by Phoenix's staff to publish calendars for 2014. Every contestant will receive a calendar. The rest calendars will be used for awarding young active participants of various nature-oriented contests.

Increase in the number of entries indicates a huge increase in awareness and interest in big cats among schoolchildren. We hope that it also indicates positive results of our educational programs.

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environMentAl journAlisM AwArDs

Since 2006, the Phoenix Fund in cooperation with the Amur Branch of WWF-Russia and WCS- Russia has been honoring journalists who possess the courage to make nature conservation issues public and who devoted much of their professional lives to trumpeting the environmental threats.

Traditionally on June 5, World Environmental Day, the results of the 7th Far Eastern Environmental Journalism Awards “Taiga Alive” were announced. As many as 55 journalists and freelance writers from Primorsky, Khabarovsky, Zabaikalsky and Kamchatsky krais, Amurskaya and Jewish Autonomous provinces, and from regional representatives of federal mass media participated in the contest this year. The jury studied 127 newspaper articles, 38 releases of news agencies, 46 TV reports, 1 documentary, and 10 radio transmissions. The authors worked on the following categories: “Amur Tiger Home", "Korean Pine Is a Tree of Life", "Green Belt of the Amur River", "Hunting Leases Keep Ward on Nature", “Protected Areas” and “Environment and Energy Industry".

This year the jury unanimously agreed to award the Grand Prix to two journalists: 1) Polina Pan’kova, reporter of Gubernia (Province) Information Agency; and 2) Natalia Platoshkina, newsperson of Tikhookeanskaya Zvezda (Pacific Ocean Star) newspaper. The winners were awarded cut-glass plates with ginseng and diplomas at the solemn ceremony on August 14, 2013.

From 2006 to 2013 as many as 429 journalists participated in the Awards competitions and submitted over 1,482 newspaper articles, TV features and broadcastings, videos and programs.

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sAlMon ConservAtion

In 2013, besides educating the population on Amur tigers, we decided to pay special attention to salmon conservation problem in Primorye. Our new area of focus is salmon conservation because people are ignorant on the current state of the fish at all. At first, we decided to conduct opinion polls among schoolchildren in Primorye in order to assess their knowledge on local salmon population. The questions relate to biology and ecology of salmon and salmon conservation issues. So, far, opinion polls have been conducted in six districts and settlements of Primorye, namely Terneisky district (79 respondents), Krasnoarmeisky district (76 respondents), Lazovsky district (42 respondents), Khasan district (69 respondents), Arseniev (77 respondents) and Vladivostok (64 respondents). Now, the questionnaires are processed and the results will be announced later in 2014.

During the reported year, Phoenix gathered materials on the state of salmon population in Primorye. We established close partnership with the specialists of the Primorsky Aquarium in order to get updated information on salmon for educational products.

Also, during the first six months, we began working with a volunteer designer based in Moscow to design and produce bookmarks on salmon for children and leaflets for adults. So far, drafts of four bookmarks have been already developed.

Leading specialists in teaching Biology at school have developed a concept of a reference book on salmon conservation. Our main task now is to find all available information that would be appropriate for the book through cooperating with the following specialists: Tatiana Gileva (Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation, A-level Student in Popular Education, and winner of Best Teachers of Russia Contest) and Olga Sviridova (Honored Teacher of the Russian Federation and A-level Student in Popular Education).

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inDustriAl DevelopMent projeCts

A significant part of our conservation activities are aimed at monitoring of infrastructure and industrial development projects in Amur tiger and leopard habitat. Our goal is to prevent or minimize their potential economic and environmental impacts and risks.

In 2013 Phoenix Fund participated in meetings of the Coordinating Committee on Environmental Problems of Primorsky krai. Our attention was mostly focused on coastal industrial projects, namely:

1) Project “Construction of Petrochemical Facilities and Port Terminal to Transport Petroleum Products in Southeast Primorye” (constructions would partly affect Amur tiger habitat);

2) Project “Construction of Liquefied Natural Gas Plant and Port Terminal to Transport Gas Products in Southwest Primorye” (constructions would partly affect natural habitat of Amur tigers and leopards);

3) We monitored carefully plans to build a gas pipeline from Ussuriisk to a projected Liquefied Natural Gas Plant in Southwest Primorye.

All these projects pose threats at a construction phase such as disturbance factor caused by construction machinery and poaching by workers who arrived from other regions. These projects were discussed during five meetings of the Coordinating Committee on Environmental Problems of Primorsky krai and meetings of Community Council under Primorsky Krai Governor, with the involvement and assistance of specialists and journalists.

When reviewing the project “Construction of Petrochemical Facilities and Port Terminal to Transport Petroleum Products in Southeast Primorye”, an independent Public Environmental Expert Review Group was organized under the auspices of local Green Cross branch. The Group members provided the designers with recommendations on reducing potential ecological risks and threats to human health.

Moreover, a number of other ecological problems were reviewed during the meetings, namely air pollution as a result of handling coal, threats of radiation hazard during construction of facilities for short-term storage and processing of radioactive waste, and other.

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Fire-FiGhtinG

Southwest Primorsky Krai, a region with one of the most biologically rich temperate forests in the world. Unfortunately, Southwest Primorye suffers probably more than any other part of Russia from frequent ground fires. The fires destroy habitat for highly endangered species, including the Amur tiger and leopard, and have a negative impacts on human health and the local economy. Recurrent fires over the past century have converted large forest tracts into grasslands and today only 57% of the region remains forested.

In 2010 the Phoenix Fund and Wildlife Conservation Society started managing wild fires in Khasan district to address the need for habitat preservation. During the reported year the two mobile fire-fighting brigades continued fighting wild fires in Khasan district in cooperation with local fire wardens and rangers.

The results of the fire-fighting project are well illustrated in the diagram below. The main goal of our project was to reduce the percentage of the project area that burns and save the critically important habitat of Amur leopards. The burn-percentages for SW Primorye and project area were calculated by an independent organization, the Tigis GIS-laboratory of the Institute of Geography of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Science.

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eMerGenCy

In autumn, after rainy spring and summer, an When there is a rich crop of acorns and cedar emergency occurred in Anyuisky National Park nuts in autumn, wild boars can grew fatter and that is located in close proximity to the Amur fatter very quickly. In winter, they also continue River. This year, it was the worst and biggest extracting food under the snow. But poor acorn flood in the area in the last 50 years; water level crop may greatly impacts wild boar population. reached 10 meters. Many people suffered Season when both acorns and cedar nuts are greatly after flood, and the Russian scarce, like this year, is the most difficult time for Government spent big money for rescue wild boars. Thus, it was clear that if the wild operations. The flooding also affected wildlife; it boar population decreased considerably in destroyed much of the vegetative cover Anyuisky National Park due to lack of food, it needed by deer and other ungulates in low- would negatively affect on resident tigers. lying areas, and substantially reduced this Hunger could drive tigers close to human year’s crop of acorns and other staple foods. settlements in search for easy prey, and it might When the water went down, the land remained lead to livestock depredations and, as a result, wet, and during the first frost, many of such wet to conflicts between predators and villagers. soils became frozen hard. Extremely emaciated Given this, it was decided to purchase wild boars tried to feed on evergreen horsetail, forage (about 70-80 tons) for wild boars and a vascular plant that contains fats and deer and deliver it to special feeding stations in carbohydrates, but horsetail and other roots the Park, so that wild boars could have were frozen in too. chances to survive through the winter, and Why were we concerned about local wild tigers, in their turn, would have enough food boar population? The matter is that wild boar or too. In November, the rangers observed the wild pig (Sus scrofa) is tiger’s main and favorite forest, and found areas with high concentration prey species. Amur tigers eat elk, deer, lynx and of wild animals and set up 23 feeding stations in bear but wild boar makes up more than half of the Park. We hope that thanks to prompt their diet. The typical foods of wild boars response and actions wild boar population as include: roots, berries, acorns, cedar nuts, well as number of resident Amur tigers will hazelnuts, and other. Usually, in spring and remain stable in the Park. summer there is a plenty of food for wild boars.

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CoMpensAtion

Since 1999, Phoenix has been paying compensations to farmers suffering from livestock depredation in order to discourage farmers and villagers from killing predators. In 2012 Phoenix started paying monthly compensation to the owner of Olenevod deer farm where a leopardess fell into the habit of killing deer. The leopardess named Sophia had been radio collared earlier by Russian scientists of A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, which helped monitor animal’s movements across a vast area of the deer farm. After several months of monitoring, the scientists noticed that the leopardess spent much time on the same area, did not leave the spot for a long time, and forbore from long- distance movement. Such behavior of the animal suggested that the leopardess had given birth to cubs and could not leave the litter without protection. In order to prevent retaliation from the farmer over livestock depredation, Phoenix offered the owner of the deer farm to sign an agreement on compensation for his loss caused by leopardess attacks. Such cooperation proved to be a success! Both the farmer and the leopard family are enjoying a peaceful co- existence now.

On January 15, 2013 the satellite component of the collar stopped working, and scientists could monitor animal’s movement only with ultra-short waves. Moreover, a male leopard was captured by camera traps set up earlier in the deer farm. In summer and autumn, we had to stop paying compensations to the farmer because camera traps did not take new images of the leopardess. However, after a rather long pause with no sign of confirmation of the presence of the leopardess, in November the camera traps finally produced digital images of Sophia, its cub and a male leopard; and Phoenix resumed its payments. Now, specialists are comparing the images in order to determine who visits the leopardess, resident leopards or new-comers. According to the deer farmer, the leopardess keeps visiting the farm and killing deer, and Phoenix would like to continue the project in 2014.

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resCue AnD rehABilitAtion oF tiGers

Since 2012 Phoenix Fund assisted federal-level agency Inspection Tiger, that is responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the Rehabilitation Center for Tigers and Other Rare Species, with rehabilitation of orphaned tiger cubs. A young tigress named “Cinderella” became the first patient of the center.

The Cinderella’s story began in February 2012, when people found the young orphaned tigress in freezing conditions. She was unable to survive for long on her own. The animal aged approximately 5-6 months was so exhausted that she could be easily handled. Her foreleg and tail were frostbitten. According to the vets, if the female tiger had not been rescued that day, she would have died the next. First, it was decided to put the animal in quarantine for three weeks under constant control of veterinarians in an improvised shelter specially constructed by wildlife specialists. Then, after the tigress began to recover, it was transported to the Rehabilitation Center for Tigers and Other Rare Species in Alekseevka . In the center the tigress went through a “training course” – it learnt to hunt and was completely isolated from people.

With her first days in the center, the tigress called Cinderella felt herself at home. The center’s caretakers did their best to increase her chances for release in the wild.

Since July 2012 the Phoenix Fund and International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) have been assisting the Centre to rehabilitate tiger cubs. In September 2012 we launched a campaign to raise funds for food and medical treatment for Cinderella. Not only people of Primorsky krai, but also citizens of many other cities all over Russia and abroad have supported our appeal to help Cinderella. All funds gathered during the campaign were transferred promptly for rehabilitation needs: meat, vitamins, veterinary care, electric fence and video cameras to observe over the tigress at great distance.

Cinderella stayed in the center for the winter and on May 9th, 2013 the tigress was released in the Bastak Nature Reserve in Jewish Autonomous Province.

The specialists are still monitoring Cinderella in her new home. And now we can say that tiger’s rehabilitation and reintroduction back into the wild was a success. In spite of a cruel destiny prepared for the small orphaned tiger cub, and thanks to aspiration of specialists to save and rehabilitate the rare animal, Cinderella got her chance for a normal life and roams freely in the protected forest.

Now there are four more tiger cubs in the rehabilitation center that await their release to the wild. And hopefully their stories would be as successful as Cinderella’s.

[PHOENIX FUND] Annual report 2013

ACKnowleDGeMents

We would like to express our gratitude to all our donors for continuous support of our projects aimed at Amur tiger/leopard conservation in the Russian Far East. With their support we managed to increase capacity of the anti-poaching teams to reduce poaching activities, enhance wildlife and habitat protection in Primorye, and attract young people as well as adults to Amur tiger conservation problems, increase their awareness of main threats to tiger's survival and measures to conserve this big cat and its habitat, and involve them in nature conservation activities.

Our profound thanks go to all our supporters, including:

21st Century Tiger Milwaukee County Zoo

Alertis: fund for bear and nature Pacific Environment conservation Rolex Awards for Enterprise BBC Wildlife Fund Rufford Foundation David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation Tamaki Foundation Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund Tiger Island/ Dreamworld Conservation Global Giving Foundation Fund

Green Grants Fund Tigris Foundation

Healthy Planet Whitley Fund for Nature

International Fund for Animal Welfare Wildlife Alliance

Kolmarden Fund Raising Foundation Wildlife Conservation Society

Korean Tigers and Leopards Zoological Society of London Conservation Fund

We want to thank equally many other donors who have contributed to our work through individual gifts and online donations.

Credits:

WCS, Inspection Tiger, A.N Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Michael Mullan, Alexei Nikolsky, Infostep.