On Tiger Day WWF Russia will present an off-road vehicle to Sikhote-Alinsky Nature Reserve
On September 28, for the 15th time a colorful parade will take place on the central avenue of Vladivostok. The idea for the holiday came from the local writer and wildlife researcher Vladimir Troinin. Back in 2000 Tiger Day was first celebrated in the central square of the regional center on the initiative of non-government environmental organizations,together with WWF.
Today it is an official holiday in Vladivostok and Primorsky Province. This year the “Amur Tiger” Center, established last year on the initiative the President of the Russian Federation, is taking an active part in its organization together with the Administration of Primorsky Province.
“WWF Russia stood at the origins of this holiday, and we are happy that it is finally, as the tiger himself, in the good hands of the state. We have been waiting for this 15 long years. This is a celebration of all those who chose nature conservation as a life principle and all who want to become a friend with our striped and spotted cats - tigers and leopards. Because without the support of people, especially local residents, it is impossible to talk about the preservation of these rare animals, - says Pavel Fomenko, Species program coordinator of WWF Russia Amur branch. – For the anniversary, we prepared a gift from WWF supporters: an off-road vehicle for rangers of Sikhote-Alinsky Nature Reserve. This spring the Fund similarly supported the operation of a joint ranger group for “Udege Legend” National Park and the Sikhote-Alinsky Nature Reserve. So this will be the second off-road vehicle that WWF Russia provides this year for tiger conservation in northern Primorye.”
A special celebration is planned for this jubilee Tiger Day in Vladivostok. On September 27 a Children's holiday, dedicated to the first anniversary of the erecting of the “Tiger cubs” bronze statue will be held on the central waterfront of the city. The “Amur Tiger” Center with the writer Sergey Georgiev will present a new book for children “Little Amur, or the Adventures of a tiger cub”.
On September 28th, nature protection brigades from secondary schools of Khasansky and Nadezhdinsky districts of Primorye will join the WWF-Russia team and take part in the tiger parade. A special program with quizzes and competitions, is awaiting children and adults at WWF’s pavilion in the central square.
Tiger Day has been already celebrated with WWF-Russia support in key areas for tiger conservation in Primorye. On September 13 it was in Luchegorsk, in the Bikin River Valley. 19 teams from schools of Dalnerechensky district gathered at the Tiger festival in the village Rakitnoe. On September 20 in Chuguyevka it was attended by more than 500 children from 20 schools and kindergartens of Chuguevsky district. On September 27, the tiger will be the main hero of a youth festival in Khabarovsk.
