New Book Tells Compelling Tale of the Fight to Save the Siberian Tiger
The struggle to protect the endangered Amur tiger is vividly explored in Jonathan Slaght’s book Tigers Between Empires, reviewed by Adam Weymouth. The work highlights how international cooperation can make a difference in conserving nature across political boundaries.
The Majesty of the Amur Tiger
The Siberian, or Amur, tiger is a remarkable creature, described by conservationist Jonathan Slaght as having “cuts of black and washes of orange” and a roar like “some terrible tide.” It inhabits the frigid forests of Russia’s far east, the only tiger known to coexist with bears in its natural environment.
Geography and Borders
The tiger’s range stretches from the immense Amur River basin, one of Asia’s largest watersheds, marking the border between Russia and China. Slaght focuses on how the history and politics of these two vast nations have shaped the fate of this rare predator.
Historical Fight for Survival
At one time, over three thousand tigers roamed northeastern Asia. Facing severe decline, the Soviet Union became, in 1947, the first country to grant legal protection to tigers. Populations briefly recovered, yet their fate continued to echo human struggles. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, widespread poverty drove many in remote regions back to hunting and trapping as a means of survival.
“In 1947, the Soviet Union became the first country in the world to legally protect tigers. For a time, their numbers rallied,” writes Slaght.
Author and Publication
- Author: Jonathan C. Slaght
- Publishers: Allen Lane (UK); Farrar, Straus and Giroux (US)
- Title: Tigers Between Empires: The Journey to Save the Siberian Tiger from Extinction
Author’s summary: A moving and insightful chronicle of how the Amur tiger’s fate reflects humanity’s power to both destroy and heal the natural world.