Earlier, Siberian tigers could be found in Russia, China and Korea. Today, the Siberian tiger population in Korea and China is near extinct. In Russia, conservational programs have however proven successful and the Siberian Tiger population has increased from 24 known tigers in the 1940’s to an estimated 360-400 in 1997.

The typical Siberian tiger habitat is the Russian woodlands where scrub oak, birch and coniferous trees dominate the landscape. The Primorski Krai region in eastern Russia is especially rich in Siberian tigers, but they are rare even there.

Since the typical Siberian tiger habitat is cold and the land covered in snow during the long winters, the Siberian tiger has developed a remarkably thick fur. The harsh climate in this part of the world has also made it necessary for the Siberian tiger to store a thick layer of fat along the belly and flanks. The winter temperatures can drop below -45° C in the Siberian tiger habitat.

The Russian conservational efforts have been successful during the last decades and the estimated number of Siberian tigers rose from 150-200 in 1994 to 360-400 tigers in 1997. In eastern Russia, you will find three designated Siberian tiger habitat areas. The largest Siberia tiger habitat is the Sikhote-Alin region which comprises 3,470 km2. Lazovsky is less than half as big and cover a land area of 1,165 km2. The smallest of the three protected regions is Kedrovaya Pad which is 178 km2. In 1992, the Law of the Russian Federation on Environmental Protection and Management awarded the Siberian tigers the right to legal protection within the Russian Siberian tiger habitat. Reports of alleged killings frequently occur in Russian media, but it is hard to find out the accuracy of all these stories. We do however know that tigers are being killed in Russia despite efforts to put a halt to the tiger trade. The unstable economic situation for many people living in the north-eastern parts of Russia makes successful tiger conservation and protection of the Siberian tiger habitat difficult. 

The Siberian Tiger is almost extinct in China and vigorous conservational efforts will be needed to rescue the population. Most Siberian tigers in China are found along the Russian border. In 1990, Chinese newspapers reported sightings of Siberian Tigers in Changbaishan, a place close to the North Korean border. Estimations show that the Siberian Tiger population in China consists of fewer than 35 individuals. Body parts from all tigers, including the Siberian tiger, are used in traditional Chinese medicine. This makes poaching a large problem in China, and China is also purchasing Siberian tigers that have been killed in the Russian Siberian tiger habitat.

More info on big and small wild cats:

Bengal Tigers
White Bengal Tigers
Royal Bengal Tigers
Bengal Tigers Facts
Jaguar Animal - Jaguar Cats
Black Jaguar (Animal)
Jaguar Animal Facts
Ocelot - Ocelot cat
Ocelot facts & Information
Siberian Tiger
White Siberian Tiger
Siberian Tiger Fact
Siberian Tiger Information
Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard Habitat
Snow Leopard Fact
Endangered Snow Leopard
White Tigers
White Bengal Tigers
White Siberian Tigers
Baby White Tigers