Prof. Hang Lee from Seoul National University is a renowned researcher of Tigers which were extinct in South Korea. Great Geography and GG club will support his efforts to conserve the Amur tigers.
This video also serves as a preview of the 2025 GG Summer School Day 1 lecture by Professor Lee Hang, titled “Beyond Borders: Boundaries, Connections, and Tigers,” coming up on July 21.
The Amur tiger, Panthera tigris altaica also known as the Siberian tiger, is one of the largest cats in the world. The most recent IUCN Red List assessment published in 2022, estimated the population at 265–486 in the Russian Far East with a further small number ranging across the border into China and possibly North Korea.
In the 1940s, it was on the brink of extinction with fewer than 50 individuals remaining in the wild. This was due to decades of almost continual political instability with the Russian Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union.
In 1947 after WW2, Russia became the first country to ban tiger hunting and offer tigers full protection. Hunting of the main prey species, boar and deer, became restricted by annual quota based on the results of population counts. Poaching of tigers became relatively rare, because there was no market for skins and other tiger products, although hunters on occasion killed their “competitor” when an opportunity presented itself. (source: Amur Tiger Facts - WildCats Conservation Alliance)
Amur tiger sampling sites and distribution (from Prof. Hang Lee's research)
You're so cool! Respect! I'll try to be a cool person, too!
ReplyDeleteIt’s incredible to see how close the Amur tiger came to extinction and how conservation efforts helped bring it back. Russia's early action in 1947 to ban tiger hunting was a huge turning point. The recovery shows how powerful protective laws and habitat management can be. Still, with fewer than 500 individuals, there’s a long way to go. Let’s keep supporting efforts to protect these magnificent big cats
ReplyDeleteHello, I am a student from the ggs summer school, and I'd like to ask a question. Do you think that wild tiger still exists in South Korea? I've never heard that one exists, and I wonder what you think about that topic.
ReplyDeleteHi, I'm Doyeon Kim from gwangju kyeongshin girl's high school. I'm so interested in your reservation of tiger. Tigers are currently endangered internationally, so I wonder why we need to preserve them, and what kind of mindset are you going to continue these activities? Also, please let me know what policies are currently being implemented .
ReplyDeleteHi, I’m Nayeong Kim from Gwang ju kyeongshin girl’s high school. I'm a student who wants to major in geography. After reading this blog, I have a question. I want to know why these tigers are distributed locally in that area from a geographic point of view. I want to know how they are distinguished from other areas in climate and habitat. Thank you
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm Lee Ji Yun, a student at Kyungshin Girls' High School in Gwangju. In Korea, the meaning of the tiger "beum" is widely used in various contents and symbols, so I think Korea has a high position of tiger symbolism. However, I wonder if Korea can continue to use tigers symbolically, or if there is a justification for their symbolism, considering the reality that tigers cannot live freely as the number of tigers in Korea as they are hunted and gradually decreases.
ReplyDeleteHello, I'm yujin Oh I'm a student of Gwang ju kyeongshin girl’s high school. I am curious about why you became interested in tigers. Is there a particular reason why you are interested in the extinction crisis of tigers and overcoming it? I would also like to ask if there are any other animals besides tigers that you have studied.
ReplyDelete안녕하세요 광주경신여자고등학교 선아영입니다. 동물원이 야생동물 보전에 긍정적인 역할을 한다는 의견도 있고 오히려 동물의 자유를 제한한다는 비판도 있습니다. 교수님께서는 동물원의 존재가 진정으로 야생동물 보전에 도움이 된다고 생각하시나요? 그렇다면 어떤 방식으로 도움이 될 수 있을까요?
ReplyDeleteHello, my name is Ayoung Seon, a student at Gwangju Gyeongshin Girls' High School. Some people believe that zoos play a positive role in wildlife conservation, while others criticize them for limiting animal freedom. Do you believe that zoos truly contribute to wildlife conservation? If so, in what ways can they be helpful?
Hello, my name is Hayoon, and I’m in 1st grade of Jinseon Girl’s High School. My dream is a veterinarian, so I was interested in your subject. As I know, there are only a few of tigers only in North Korea, which means none of tigers live in South Korea. Thus, I wonder how can you save tigers in our country. Are you going to import tigers from other countries such as China or Russia? I want to ask you the way you’re going to save tigers! Thank You.
ReplyDeleteGG 서머스쿨 고유번호 1132, 이하윤입니다.
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ReplyDelete안녕하세요 저는 영락고등학교 강윤석입니다. 만약 호랑이가 보존된다면 그렇지 않아도 작은 국토에 개발까지 많이 되어 호랑이들이 잘 살아갈 수 있을지 걱정이 됩니다. 이에 관한 해결책이 있을까요?