New Book Reveals the Fight to Save the Siberian Tiger
Jonathan Slaght’s Tigers Between Empires offers an inspiring account of international cooperation aimed at protecting the endangered Amur tiger. Adam Weymouth highlights this compelling story that bridges conservation and geopolitics.
The Majestic Amur Tiger
The Siberian tiger, also known as the Amur tiger, inhabits the harsh winters of Russia’s far east. Slaght describes it as an awe-inspiring animal, marked by “cuts of black and washes of orange” with a roar resembling “some terrible tide.” It lives alongside bears, unique among tigers.
Geographical and Political Context
The Amur tiger's territory extends from the Amur river basin, one of Asia’s largest watersheds, forming the border between Russia and China. The book explores how the histories and changing relations of these two powerful neighbors have shaped the tiger’s fate.
Historical Protection and Challenges
- At its peak, the Amur tiger population may have reached 3,000 across northeast Asia.
- In 1947, the Soviet Union became the first country to enact legal protections for tigers.
- This initially led to a rebound in tiger numbers.
- However, the collapse of the Soviet Union caused widespread poverty in remote areas, pushing locals back to trapping and endangering the tigers again.
“The Siberian tiger is an awesome animal, with ‘cuts of black and washes of orange’, a roar like ‘some terrible tide’, the only tiger to share a home with bears.” — Jonathan Slaght
Slaght’s narrative shows how the survival of Amur tigers is tightly linked to human history and political changes shaping their habitats.
Author’s Summary
This book reveals how cross-border collaboration is crucial to preserving the Siberian tiger amidst historical and political upheavals that directly impact its survival.