Threatened Russian tigers battle the odds

October 6, 2000
Web posted at: 1:50 PM EDT (1750 GMT)

	VIDEO
CNN's Gary Strieker takes a look at the last of the Siberian tigers Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)

(CNN) -- It is estimated that only about 400 Siberian tigers still survive in the wild.

Almost all of them are in Russia's Sikhote-Alin mountain range. Researchers have learned that in order for the tigers to survive there, they need more territory than the existing parks and protected reserves provide.

Unfortunately, the need for open space is not the only thing that threatens the tigers.

Seventy years ago, Siberian tigers were nearly hunted to extinction.

Russian poachers saw a lucrative opportunity and began killing the animals to supply the growing demand in Asian markets for tiger skins and tiger body parts used in traditional medicines.

As a result, more than a third of Russia's tigers were wiped out.

While the poaching hasn't stopped, Russian authorities and conservationists are working hard to educate local people and prosecute poachers in an effort to save the beautiful creatures from an untimely fate.

CNN Environmental Correspondent Gary Strieker has the full report from the Sikhote-Alin Reserve in eastern Russia.

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