What is it about?
Tigers are among the most at-risk large carnivores and the South China tiger is the most threatened tiger subspecies. Reintroduction programmes are one strategy to re-establishing extirpated populations. China is committed to restoring wild South China tigers, but uncertainty remains about factors constraining these efforts. The aim of this study was to query conservation and reintroduction professionals about their attitudes and concerns and to provide guidance regarding a possible tiger reintroduction effort in South Central China. We carried out a global survey of scholars and practitioners involved with wildlife reintroduction and conservation. A majority of respondents supported a potential South China tiger reintroduction effort, but many expressed concerns over planning and implementation, adherence to international reintroduction guidelines and elimination of underlying threats. Respondents generally believed that China has the capacity to carry out such a programme, but may not have the experience or socio-political environment to address the issues facing human populations.
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Why is it important?
To our knowledge, this is the first survey related to a potential large carnivore reintroduction programme in Asia; it has implications for future reintroduction and recovery programmes in Asia and globally.
Perspectives
China has made strides that suggest that such a South China tiger reintroduction could soon be feasible. China is proposing a new national park in Northeast China to protect Amur tigers and has announced new conservation commitments, such as a ban on all ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017. There is also precedent elsewhere in Asia: Tigers were translocated to Panna (2009) and Sariska Tiger Reserves (2008) in India after poachers killed off tigers in these reserves. Asian range state commitments to tiger population recovery may signal a new era in large carnivore reintroduction and recovery, not unlike similar efforts in North America and Europe, but our findings suggest significant hurdles may remain before similar success is possible in cases such as the South China tiger, for which suitable land is limited, local human population densities are high and cultural and administrative constraints remain.
Dr. Philip J. Nyhus
Colby College
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Assessing factors influencing a possible South China tiger reintroduction: a survey of international conservation professionals, Environmental Conservation, March 2017, Cambridge University Press,
DOI: 10.1017/s0376892917000182.
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