Amur tiger

    Today, a tiger is shot every other day in the world, and there are only about 500 Amurtigers left in the wild. The Kolmården Foundation therefore supports the Russian nature conservation organization Phoenix Fund, which works for the conservation of the highly threatened amurtiger.

    The Phoenix Fund was established in 1998 in Russia with the aim of preserving the rich fauna and flora of eastern Russia. It is the only region where amurtigers and amurleopards live in the wild. Kolmården has supported the Phoenix Fund since 2005.

    The Amur tiger is threatened by poaching both to obtain the valuable skins and to obtain body parts for the manufacture of ancient, traditional, Asian medicine. The tiger competes with hunters for prey and occasionally takes domesticated animals for local people, causing them to be hunted and killed themselves.

    Other threats are habitat destruction in the form of deforestation and forest fires, which also leads to fragmentation. The natural prey is decreasing in numbers for the same reasons, which also poses a threat to both the Amur tiger and the Amur leopard.

    Due to the economic sanctions against Russia, no money can currently be sent to the project.

    Phoenix Fund educates and prevents poaching

    The Phoenix Fund has for many years fought to protect the tiger and its habitats. The organization develops methods to reduce illegal hunting of tigers and their prey and to increase the protection of their habitat.

    They also work to increase awareness and knowledge about tigers in the local population. Therefore, they have started so-called eco-centers, where children and young people are educated about tigers and their connection to the ecosystem. Other efforts include annual tiger/leopard-focused art competitions, the Tiger Day festival, lectures, theater, ecology games, games, quizzes, exhibitions, films, other educational materials, and workshops for teachers to improve the quality of teaching at eco- centers and in schools.

    The aim is to arouse children's interest in nature, ecology and conservation work. It is also hoped that the children raise the issues in their families so that commitment increases among the adults as well.

    Phoenix Fund's work follows the global plan to save the tiger (GlobalTiger Recovery Program) and strengthens and assists Russia's national work to save the Amur tiger.

    Other efforts

    The Phoenix Fund as a whole also works with:

    ● To reduce conflicts between predators and humans
    ● To care for and rehabilitate injured tigers and motherless cubs them.
    ● Anti-poaching measures in addition to the aforementioned
    ● Forest fire fighting
    ● Compensation for damage/loss of domestic animals caused by the predators
    ● Community monitoring

    An increase in tigers has occurred in the areas where the work takes place

    The results of the new working methods show that the number of arrested illegal hunters is increasing and that more weapons are being seized. This, in turn, has led to a decrease in illegal hunting and an increase in the number of tigers in the areas.

    Phoenix Fund's work not only benefits tigers but also aims to protect other species in the same areas from illegal hunting and also prevent illegal deforestation.