China develops early warning system to prevent human-tiger conflicts
China is developing an early warning system aimed at reducing conflicts between humans and tigers.
TroibNews 
Surveillance drones, smart infrared cameras, and an integrated intelligent monitoring system are some of the technologies that Chinese tiger experts have developed to protect Siberian tigers.
During a forum, Markus Radday, a tiger program officer with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), commended these advancements. He emphasized that these technologies facilitate the creation of an early warning system crucial for preventing human-tiger conflicts and safeguarding both sides. He pointed out that such achievements are possible through the joint efforts of scientists, institutions, and enterprises.
The 2nd International Forum on Conservation and Recovery of Tiger and Leopard is taking place in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, from July 28 to 31.
This forum features comprehensive discussions on global management of tiger and leopard populations and habitats, human-wildlife conflict resolution, and strategies for prey and habitat restoration.
Siberian tigers, also called Amur tigers, are primarily located in northeast China and Russia's Far East. As one of the world's most endangered species and a flagship species of the forest ecosystem, their population in China was estimated to be a mere 12 to 16 wild individuals in 1998.
Since the 1990s, China has introduced various measures to increase the population of these endangered animals and help them reclaim their natural habitats. As a result of China's efforts in conserving Siberian tigers, there has been growing interest from international scholars and organizations in these initiatives.
Radday, a German who has spent 12 years working on tiger conservation in China, observed that the past decade has seen significant success in rebuilding the Siberian tiger population and promoting harmonious human-tiger coexistence.
"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. The practice would be valuable for densely populated countries like India and Nepal, where increasing tigers have led to frequent loss of live stocks in vulnerable communities," he said.
Radday’s perspective is shared by many other tiger experts from different countries. Nay Myo Shwe, a researcher at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi in Thailand and head of wildlife at WWF-Myanmar, acknowledged that finding new solutions to human-tiger conflicts is a significant challenge for China and other countries with tiger populations.
As the wild tiger populations grow, so do their territorial ranges, increasing the potential for conflicts with humans. Understanding the reasons behind these conflicts is critical for protecting local communities and averting future encounters, he noted.
Chris Hallam, WWF regional wildlife lead for Asia Pacific, remarked that China's approach, combining expertise with robust government support, is fundamental to maintaining a healthy and extensive tiger population. He suggested that these practices could be beneficial in Southeast Asian regions where tiger numbers have declined in recent years.
Since 2010, China's wild tiger population has been on the rise. According to data from the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, around 70 wild Siberian tigers currently live in the park, with 20 cubs born last year.
"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," Radday said.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
During a forum, Markus Radday, a tiger program officer with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), commended these advancements. He emphasized that these technologies facilitate the creation of an early warning system crucial for preventing human-tiger conflicts and safeguarding both sides. He pointed out that such achievements are possible through the joint efforts of scientists, institutions, and enterprises.
The 2nd International Forum on Conservation and Recovery of Tiger and Leopard is taking place in Harbin, the capital of northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, from July 28 to 31.
This forum features comprehensive discussions on global management of tiger and leopard populations and habitats, human-wildlife conflict resolution, and strategies for prey and habitat restoration.
Siberian tigers, also called Amur tigers, are primarily located in northeast China and Russia's Far East. As one of the world's most endangered species and a flagship species of the forest ecosystem, their population in China was estimated to be a mere 12 to 16 wild individuals in 1998.
Since the 1990s, China has introduced various measures to increase the population of these endangered animals and help them reclaim their natural habitats. As a result of China's efforts in conserving Siberian tigers, there has been growing interest from international scholars and organizations in these initiatives.
Radday, a German who has spent 12 years working on tiger conservation in China, observed that the past decade has seen significant success in rebuilding the Siberian tiger population and promoting harmonious human-tiger coexistence.
"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. The practice would be valuable for densely populated countries like India and Nepal, where increasing tigers have led to frequent loss of live stocks in vulnerable communities," he said.
Radday’s perspective is shared by many other tiger experts from different countries. Nay Myo Shwe, a researcher at King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi in Thailand and head of wildlife at WWF-Myanmar, acknowledged that finding new solutions to human-tiger conflicts is a significant challenge for China and other countries with tiger populations.
As the wild tiger populations grow, so do their territorial ranges, increasing the potential for conflicts with humans. Understanding the reasons behind these conflicts is critical for protecting local communities and averting future encounters, he noted.
Chris Hallam, WWF regional wildlife lead for Asia Pacific, remarked that China's approach, combining expertise with robust government support, is fundamental to maintaining a healthy and extensive tiger population. He suggested that these practices could be beneficial in Southeast Asian regions where tiger numbers have declined in recent years.
Since 2010, China's wild tiger population has been on the rise. According to data from the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, around 70 wild Siberian tigers currently live in the park, with 20 cubs born last year.
"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," Radday said.
Emily Johnson contributed to this report for TROIB News
