How to search for wild tigers?

How to search for wild tigers?

"Tiger as storm" just the current provincial eager to find a miniature of the South China Tiger.

Currently, the relevant departments in Shaanxi local organizations looking for wild South China Tiger, and Chongqing authorities announced the start of paid collection of wild South China tiger in local activities, parts of the media also intensively reviewed in recent years the wild South China tigers around the discovery of the signs.

However, looking for wild tiger is not a simple task.

By relying on a single footprint no, not by relying on photos, and even on the stool DNA identification may also have the "right". In the wild in search of a 5 year South China Tiger of scientific researchers tell us that the wild-the Tiger, must obtain a range of evidence chain.

In fact, this is the new knowledge weekly in a month and a half, the third time to discuss the issue of the Tiger.

16 September, we produced artificial propagation on "legalized" tiger products. 21 October, we also produced a storm as "Tiger," topic. In the interview, zoologists, animal conservation experts, we clearly feel a variety of external forces on animal studies the influence of academic activities. "Tiger as storm" has become our observation of the current Chinese scientific research environment in an interesting starting point.

Long search Tiger road

1999, 4 July, Jiangxi yihuang white bamboo two villagers went to catch snakes.

Return soon to the village, the two men came to a place of rice fields and rice paddies sides respectively from back to the village. Suddenly, the villagers Yuan Hong Hua screams of, another person arrived, Yuan has been seriously injured.

The next day, local forestry authorities, in conjunction with the Public Security Bureau conducted a survey on the scene and found dead villagers are positive, the skull was smashed.

There are various indications that it was the large cats. Atthe same time, local villagers have seen 3 reflected only takes the Tiger animal. Accordingly, at that time, many experts believe yihuang at least 2 in existence only adult South China Tiger and three cubs.

Such an attack attracted forestry and scientists.

Previously, Beijing forestry University Professor, Associate Professor, Northeast forestry University campus ballad hit parade, Liu Wei, experts had already formed a branch of the South China Tiger wild population survey. They soon entered the field survey carried out at regional and at yihuang forest arrangement 7 single infrared automatic photographic device. Infrared automatic layout of camera equipment, is considered by the campus ballad hit parade field South China tiger investigation necessary preparations. In the infrared automatic photographic equipment of "watching", South China Tiger will show it clearly.

In the layout expert not done before, "step on" work.

Team visited the local old Hunter, medicinal herbs, collected in recent years, the South China Tiger information, including information on categories, time, witnesses, and so on, combining related habitats of key investigation area.

Unit of cumulative survey-like lines 26,-like lines covering a total area of nearly 700 hectares, the reserve of the core area of about 10%.

In this procedure, ungulates of the investigation and the number of investigations carried out at the same time. Comprehensive access to the investigation and preliminary results of a survey-like lines, the unit can be broadly identified the following automatic photographic device installed infrared region. "Our main settings in animals found frequent path and possible food places, looking for the South China Tiger or prey photos. ”

This investigation took nearly half the year, from China and the United States scientists are hoping to find the existence of South China tigers in the wild.

However, the results are displayed, possibly wild Leopard attacks on the villagers, even in the South China Tiger, also at the wider loitering South China Tiger temporarily residing there. The investigation team found no Tiger related footprint, lying on the track, manure and other marks, nor hear the cry of the Tiger. Throughout the investigation period, only the infrared camera equipment automatically take 2 pieces of Sambar, Ring-necked Pheasant 1 piece.

The disappointing results.

But this kind of disappointed in campus ballad hit parade and others, a series of studies recurs. Since 2000, the wild South China Tiger survey lasted for 5 years, from Jiangxi to Hunan to Fujian, expedition swamps in the history of the South China Tiger Habitat for all. But the campus ballad hit parade line always found no trace of the South China Tiger.

Expert opinion: perhaps already extinct in the wild

Reason 1 rare South China Tiger stolen food

Although the masses involved in all parts of the South China Tiger is also a lot of information, involving a lion roars, footprint, excreta, claw, lying on the track and food debris, and the South China Tiger-related information, "but the evidence is rather ambiguous, and evidence of the time offset, unable to confirm.

" The campus ballad hit parade that if indeed yihuang attacks as South China Tiger, then the South China Tiger inevitably stolen food animals. Local farmers in April 1999, have lost a Buffalo, but was unable to confirm his death.

And this is in contrast to the Tibet region of Bengal tiger namcha study, researchers found that between 1993 and 1995, the region a total of 302 Tiger prey large livestock records.

Be seen that the wild tiger on domestic animals stolen considerable appetite. However, there is a lack in yihuang and South China Tiger related to hunt animals of conclusive evidence.

Reason 2 game resources limited

In yihuang South China tiger reserve, mainly large ungulate animals: wild boar, sushi ling, reevesi,

sambar, tufted deer, etc. These are the Tiger's main prey.

Check out the research staff in the region of prey density: the wild pig density per square kilometre 0.21 ± 0.05 head, sushi Ling density per square kilometre 0.13 ± 0.03 head, water deer density per square kilometre 0.15 ± 0.03 head, reevesi density per square kilometre 0.19 ± 0.01 head.

Accumulation of various large ungulates of density per square kilometre 0.78 ± 0.12 head.

Scholars have Tiger distribution of Jilin Tai Lung Ridge area survey found that Tiger prey density per square kilometre 2.997 ± 0.60 head;

Jilin zhangguangcai Ridge area adds up the Regional Tiger prey density 3.286 head. Visible, yihuang reserves South China Tiger prey density is very low and unable to feed the South China tiger population.

Reason 3 vegetation is also a big problem

"South China Tiger habitats is a comprehensive index, including the subtle level, food and water.

" The campus ballad hit parade that vegetation survey found yihuang tiger reserve food density is too low, and the situation of local vegetation.

The area of vegetation to plantation (Masson pine and bamboo).

Campus ballad hit parade pointed out that the lack of woodland environment of ungulates food condition. Because of the natural vegetation of cutting down the growth of secondary forest after the forest hierarchy is relatively simple, shrubs thrive, medium and large herbivores traffic difficulties, is not conducive to their activities and feeding.

In addition, the survey also found in yihuang reserve pilot areas, buffer zones and core areas are villages and farm land distribution, there are production activities throughout the year.

Scientific researchers even at an altitude of 1300 metres can see cattle footprint and manure, etc. South China Tiger prey difficult under these conditions.

Kam-Tiger need evidence chain

Infrared automatic photographic equipment to take a photograph of the

South China Tiger, even Leopard nor; no South China Tiger poaching the exact record domestic animals; there is not enough game to South China Tiger hunting; there is not enough for ungulates production of vegetation; habitat fragmentation in the more serious ... The evidence in this series, the Unit considers yihuang area temporarily also failed to find a fixed area life wild South China Tiger.

"Kam-Tiger is not to say that there is a footprint or take photos to a conclusion, but rather a series of evidence.

" The campus ballad hit parade. However, with this series of evidence to research many years in the wild South China tiger investigation, scientific researchers found to be sufficient evidence of the chain is still very difficult.

Previously, Fujian has reported finding a South China Tiger's footprint, as well as the South China Tiger wounding, predator-prey animal events.

However later, researchers confirmed that more may be clouded leopards or. In fact, on the South China Tiger footprint news constantly appear in each had the South China Tiger distribution of provinces.

Liu Wei Shi had participated in the survey, as part of Fujian province but could not see the footprints of the Tiger.

"Because it seldom snows in the South, it is difficult to see footprint, see it is not clear, size nor good judgement and therefore unable to determine if the South China Tiger. " But since then, other researchers also investigate to have some clear feline's footprint, waste, etc., this judgment there large cats. But footprint than Tiger's small, it may be a young Tiger left? Liu Wei Shi said that young Tiger must be led by the activities of the mother, so if you are an infant Tiger, there must be an adult in fact with it, "If you do not have a large footprint, basic as Cheetah. ”

In October 1998, Zhejiang Province hundred hill country home reserve discovered the footprints of the "Tiger" and "Tiger droppings" and "South China Tiger".

29 October 1998, it was also the first film to "footprints" South China Tiger. Zhejiang University of life sciences are warmer countries, researchers began to "South China Tiger" stool samples for DNA analysis. Them from the skin, hair and extract obtained in stool South China Tiger, Leopard, clouded leopard, Roe, reevesi reevesi,m.muntjak and tufted deer, 7 species of animal DNA and this hybrid 7 animal DNA samples for the standard control, and thus to the motherland from 100 mountain home nature reserve of "South China Tiger" fecal samples for identification of mixed DNA, gene identification and detection. The results confirm that 100 mountain country house-level nature reserve, live South China Tiger. Local departments then announced the news.

Molecular biology tools are advanced methods that are warmer countries, researchers use DNA identification of methods in the circle of people seem to really be right.

However, they believe it is not as wild South China Tiger's presence must be on.

Why? campus ballad hit parade that molecular biology of target gene found in the section, to make results is not the same, "the technology is also not very mature, on different species selected by the evaluation standard felt now still in the stage, which for some the most appropriate research also still in the process of gradually exploring.

”

In addition, evidence on other links of the chain is missing or is an important reason.

Liu Wei Shi also pointed out that baishanzu reserve the faecal DNA identification is no problem, but the problem is in the later years of further investigation found no footprints, prey animal remains and other evidence. "Probably was the South China Tiger just passing through, but it cannot be said that this tiger long-term exists in this, there is uncertainty. " Are warmer countries that local is there to listen to the wild South China Tiger experts, but at the time of detection method and have no problems.

And this contrast, China's w

ild tiger exists after a series of demonstration of the chain of evidence, including food, Habitat, etc. But the most important evidence or, researchers in the winter and summer are to see Tiger trace of activities. In addition, Tiger hunting game remains. But in Jilin captured wild tiger photos and description of the Amur tiger does exist.

Three major evidence: Tiger, DNA, Tiger trails

In view of the Tiger, the formation of sufficient evidence of the chain to determine whether the South China Tiger, which is almost the only convincing.

In fact, each a mirror of the Tiger, this is the only scientific way. Of course, this series of evidence, there are three major evidence is most important.

First, find Tiger photos.

Campus ballad hit parade that person into the jungle beat Tiger is very difficult, typically take infrared automatic photographic device to shoot.

Tiger mainly in the morning and evening activities, daytime activities less, but their night vision far beyond human beings and the vast majority of herbivorous animals.

Their main activity areas are in dense vegetation. Because Tiger generally need to ambush the animals, so indispensable conditions a concealed. Thus, in a concealed under Tiger is also generally not as seen.

Moreover, the Mammalian Olfactory Tiger and the hearing that it was very good, a few hundred metres wide will be able to smell the scent of a man.

"To date, as far as I know, no one can hold the camera in the wild take good photos, even if photographed is blurry. " The campus ballad hit parade that maybe for this reason, we are raised to Shaanxi Zhenping Tiger photo, after all, the wild shot to the Tiger," is not a possibility, but the probability is low. ”

It is also for direct take photos of probability is low that scientific researchers generally use infrared automatic photographic device.

This device can not day and night to be monitored, as long as there is a Tiger (which ofcourse includes other animals) appears on the left of the "evidence", and very clear. Therefore, the infrared automatic device to take photos became the main evidence.

In addition, the Genetics DNA analysis.

Material mainly from Tiger droppings, shedding of gastrointestinal epithelial cells, with the hair follicles of the hair and other genetic material of the Tiger. However, this advanced technology is still stuck in the how to draw the correct conclusions for sampling.

The rest of the third class of important evidence is Tiger's footsteps, pendant claw, poached Tigers can leave traces, etc.

Campus ballad hit parade that adult Tiger's footprint width not less than 12 cm, Leopard is smaller.

In addition, the Tiger claw left hanging can be classified into two categories. In the tree on the left is the "hanging tree", left in the ground is "hung".

Tiger and Leopard hanging claws also have differences.

South China Tiger's claw is very sharp, pointed and finger width between the large also. But some Leopard to narrow. Campus ballad hit parade, and other researchers in Jiangxi yihuang reserve found hanging claw, after study found is the bear, "bear-Flex out a tablet, similar to a peel off. Make a distinction between "campus ballad hit parade.

Evidence of the search should be continued

For wild field survey of the South China Tiger, in the scientific research personnel that has been seen as a good thing, one important thing.

Both Shaanxi, Guangdong, Fujian, and expand the field survey of the South China Tiger, has its value. "However, at present the province found South China Tiger wishes are very urgent. " The campus ballad hit parade at yihuang survey says, come to yihuang, you will see" Township of the South China Tiger "big brands.

In fact, Zhenping in Shaanxi.

"State of mind, and nature tour smell, South China Tiger roaring Pinter Zhenping bacon", Zhenping County also appeared the Billboard.

However, the campu

s ballad hit parade that my homeland is very large, the investigation has sporadically, but the surface is limited. From here, the evidence of the search process should be continued and further verification is there South China Tiger. And mutual support among the evidence, that evidence of mere unilateral determination that there is a tiger is sloppy.

In addition, the survey remain calm state of mind is not small.

Before the South China Tiger is considered harmful animal, or kill them, and today we want it to reproduce in a short time. "South China Tiger and is not a ghost, you want to let it go, come to campus ballad hit parade that" economic interest in it. Prior to eating a few pigs, economic interests. But today Tiger back, but also bring economic benefits to us, "this kind of mentality is wrong, we should first consider the people and wildlife coexist in harmony. ”

In the interview process, there is also a member of the expert on wild tiger-Tiger activity revealed a number of concerns.

He said: including your own, the researchers have many related information but little contact with the media, public information — arguably, this activity should be part of their work. Experts say road out of their concern: the first is the fear caused by poaching molecules. Second, if science finds Tiger footprint approach on very thin, so fake people it is easy to fake, "then later analysis looks more trouble. ”

New thematic interviews/reporter Li Jian-thematic pictures in addition to the branding, are provided by Liu Wei Shi

This special thanks to: campus ballad hit parade (Beijing Linda biological science and technology, Professor) Liu Wei Shi (Northeast China Grand Forestry Institute Associate Professor of wildlife resources) are warmer countries (Zhejiang University of life sciences, the Professor) guanke (shanxilinyeting Advocacy Center Director)

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