Nowadays, some people still regard tigers as bloodthirsty predators. People who live near tigers, are usually rather poor and considerably dependent on forest recourses. As a rule, they hold negative attitudes towards nature-conservation measures that prioritize wilderness and disregard their needs. Most of those people have livestock pasturing in the woods and pastureland where it can become an easy prey for tigers. In that case livestock owners suffer serious economic losses due to livestock depredation and try to revenge on predators by poisoning, entrapping or even shooting them off. Unfortunately, such actions by indignant farmers make injured predators approach human settlements in search of food because they are unable to hunt successfully in the forest suffering from wounds. Continue
Projects
The Amur leopard/tiger conservation projects are implemented in Primorye and south of Khabarovsky krai, the Russian Far East. We continue to focus on law enforcement as the short-term key to the survival of the species, but recognize that it is the re-education of the community that will ensure the survival of the tiger and leopard in the long-term. Many of the damaging human activities often result from ecological ignorance of the local people. But the majority of people are unaware of the threats to tiger/leopard survival and other ecological problems of the region.
We strongly believe that combined efforts of the environmental law enforcement teams and continuous education and outreach will ensure protection of big wild cats, their habitat and prey.
The Phoenix Fund carries out a broad range of ecological education and outreach programmes at schools, kindergartens, universities and eco-centers in Primorye. Our goals are to foster a positive attitude to endangered wildlife and nature conservation among the region’s youth and increase their environmental awareness and participation in conservation activities. We also aim to influence adults through the environmental education of their children. To achieve these goals Phoenix organises ecological lessons at schools, establishes eco-centers, conducts ecological events and training workshops, and publishes educational materials. Continue
Nowadays, tigers and leopards are still hunted for their valuable body parts that are used in traditional Chinese medicine and for skins that are in high international demand. Moreover, it is common for hunters to poach tigers to eliminate competition for ungulates and habitat and for locals to kill tigers in retaliation for depredations on domestic animals such as dogs and cows.
Poaching is a serious threat for the survival of these cats. Continue
The Khasan district in Southern Primorye is famous for its unique animal and plant species. Nature reserves and protected territories cover 37% of the district. It is a home to the endangered Amur leopard, whose population is now limited to 35-40 animals, and isolated subpopulation of Amur tigers with 15-20 individuals. Once in 6 years forest fires engulf up to 50% of the district. Continue
Carnivore conservation can be very challenging because the actions of carnivores often are resented by humans. Carnivores depredate livestock or reduce abundance of wildlife valued by hunters thereby coming into direct conflict with humans. Retaliation is invariably swift and involves killing those individuals responsible for the depredation. Continue
Non-governmental organisations have no right to make anyone abide by environmental regulations and laws or to obligate to do concrete actions for the sake of nature. But NGOs can bring various nature conservation problems directly to the public, tell the truth about what happens, and catalyze by their activities various changes necessary to improve nature conservation. Continue
It is clear that surviving in Primorsky forests is hard on their dwellers today. It is too hard for them to survive under the condition of total poaching, illegal logging, lack of food, and forest fires. They cannot survive without our help. Continue
Our Dreams
Our dreams
The Phoenix Fund strives to find sponsors to build a Multifunctional Ecological Center for NGOs near Ryazanovka town, Khasan district. The Eco-center will serve as a year-round community resource for environmental education and ecological events. Continue
