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WWF release rare video of tigers in China
Amur tiger
The new footage is the result of decades of conservation work aimed at establishing a breeding Amur tiger population in China.
Organisation captures footage of Amur tiger family

Footage of a family of tiger cubs has been captured by a WWF camera trap, in what is the first video evidence of Amur tigers in China.

The tigers were filmed playing 20 miles from the Russian border late in 2014. Before the footage was captured, footprints were the only indicators of this species of tiger in the country.  

Because tiger cubs would be not be able to travel such a distance by themselves, the WWF say that they must have been raised in China.

Wang Fuyou, division head of the Wangqing Nature Reserve conservation department, said: "These images show that Wangqing Nature Reserve has now become a breeding site for Amur tigers. Seeing these positive outcomes from our efforts greatly strengthens our confidence that wild Amur tiger populations can be restored."

Also known as Siberian tigers, Amur tigers were once common in northern China, the Russian Far East and the Korean peninsula.  Sadly, by the 1940s they had been driven to near extinction - no more than 40 individuals remained in the wild.

The subspecies was saved when Russia became the first country in the world to grant the tiger full protection. By the 1980s, the Amur tiger population had increased to around 450. Those individuals now reside in far-east Russia, and at least 18-30 adults have been spotted in the border areas of China and North Korea.

WWF say that the new footage is the result of decades of conservation work aimed at establishing a breeding Amur tiger population in China.

WWF's Amur Tiger Conservation plan designated the Wangqing-Hunchun-Saiyang-Dongning Area as a priority zone for wild tiger conservation in 2010.

To view the video visit https://vimeo.com/120081659 

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Reporting service for dead wild birds updated

News Story 1
 The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) has updated its online reporting service for dead wild birds.

The new version allows those reporting a dead bird to drop a pin on a map when reporting the location. It also includes a wider range of wild bird species groups to select from when describing the bird.

The online service, which helps APHA to monitor the spread of diseases such as avian influenza, can be accessed here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
NI chief vet urges bluetongue vigilance

Northern Ireland's chief veterinary officer (CVO) has urged farmers to be vigilant for signs of bluetongue, after the Animal and Plant Health Agency warned there was a very high probability of further cases in Great Britain.

There have been 126 confirmed cases of bluetongue virus serotype 3 in England since November 2023, with no cases reported in Northern Ireland. The movement of live ruminants from Great Britain to Northern Ireland is currently suspended.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), the virus is most likely to enter Northern Ireland through infected animals or germplasm (semen or ova) being imported.

Brian Dooher, Northern Ireland's CVO, said: "Surveillance for this disease within Northern Ireland has been increased to assist with detection at the earliest opportunity which will facilitate more effective control measures."

Farmers should report any suspicions of the disease to their private veterinary practitioner, the DAERA Helpline on 0300 200 7840 or their local DAERA Direct Veterinary Office.