Help Save rarest 100 Amur Leopards from Extinction

In January 2022, the team carried out 22 anti-poaching patrols, some of which were conducted in cooperation with police officers.

On January 12, the team received information about a fire on Stolovaya hill in the Land of the Leopard National Park. Upon arrival, the inspectors discovered a large fire. Strong gusty wind blowing from sea to land and marshland with high and thick reeds hindered the efforts of the team to put out the fire. It took a few hours before it was extinguished. When examining the burned area, the inspectors determined that the fire was an act of arson. The fire burned about 30 hectares.

It is worth mentioning that due to the continued lack of adequate snow cover it was hard for the inspectors to reveal trespassing. That is why it was decided to increase the number of ambushes at places where poaching was most likely to occur. In winter hunters may shoot the prey out of a car. In this connection, the team had to show up regularly on public roads in order to prevent such violations.

In February, the team continued patrolling the protected area in order to prevent or reveal poaching and protect the area from forest fires. Overall, the inspectors carried out 24 patrols and extinguished two fires. Due to increased number of fires inside the national park, in order to be able to respond promptly, effectively and safely to wildfires it was decided to reduce the distance of foot patrols and patrol mostly in areas where fires were likely to occur. Also, they gave three lectures on careful attitude towards nature at schools in Zanadvorovka and Barabash villages. In addition, the team set up information signs and repaired a patrol vehicle.

In March, the team of central subordination continued patrolling the protected area in order to prevent any violations of environmental laws. Most patrols were carried out during daylight hours due to high fire-risk season. Sometimes, the patrols were conducted in cooperation with gamekeepers of adjacent hunting leases. In all, the team carried out 22 patrols and extinguished 3 forest fires.