China, Russia unveil new data on Siberian tigers, Amur leopards

The latest statistics on Siberian tigers and Amur leopards, jointly compiled by Chinese and Russian teams, were released on Wednesday, the 16th International Tiger Day, showing that 21 tigers and 27 leopards engage in frequent cross-border activities.

Siberian tigers are China's only tiger subspecies with a stable wild breeding population, mainly living in Hunchun City and Wangqing County in northeast China's Jilin Province, on the border between China and Russia. They also live in cities like Dongning and Muling in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

As Siberian tigers migrate across the boundary line and river between the two countries, sharing intricate kinship, it is difficult to count their numbers precisely.

"This family actually roams across the border between the two countries, but before making comparisons, the Russian side only captured the image of the female tiger leading the tiger behind her, and they always believed that she had given birth to one in this litter. However, after our joint comparison this time, the Russian side also finally confirmed that she actually gave birth to two cubs this year," said Kong Weiyao, an official from the Assets Protection Division at the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park Administration.

In November 2025, led by the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park and Russia's Land of the Leopard National Park, institutions from both countries began conducting surveys on Siberian tigers and Amur leopards. After nearly eight months of work, experts from both sides recently confirmed the statistical results of individual tigers and leopards.

"After long-term joint efforts and repeated comparisons and verifications by experts from the two countries, it was finally determined that at least 147 wild Siberian tigers have been recorded in the cross-border protected areas between China and Russia. Among them, 72 are in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, 96 are in Russia's Land of the Leopard National Park, and 21 are shared by both sides across the border. There are at least 223 wild Amur leopards, among which 115 are in the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park, while 135 are in the Land of the Leopard National Park, with 27 individuals shared across the border between the two sides," said Duan Zhaogang, director of the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park Administration.

The China-Russia joint survey on wild tiger and leopard populations has laid a solid foundation for further exploration of cross-border animal conservation and scientific research between the two countries.

The two countries will further establish a regular mechanism for monitoring and information sharing, with both sides to share data at least once every year for joint analysis, so as to update their data on tiger and leopard populations and the migration and spread of the animals in a timely manner.

China, Russia unveil new data on Siberian tigers, Amur leopards

Medical treatment and support work are going smoothly at the Sog County People's Hospital in the vicinity of Baqen County in the city of Nagqu in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region that was hit by a powerful earthquake on Thursday.

Some of the injured people in Maru Township and Gangqie Township of Baqen County were transferred to the hospital, which is about 57 kilometers away from the epicenter.

The hospital has sufficient medical supplies and living necessities.

"All the medical staff in our hospital are working together to provide treatment for the injured. Those who need to be hospitalized are hospitalized, and those who need observation are under observation. We also provide round-the-clock food services for the family members," said nurse Kunsang.

"We have been working around the clock since last night, and more patients have been coming in," said hospital official Rinchen Drolma.

Besides offering effective treatment, medical workers have also been giving psychological support to the injured and their family members.

"The medical workers and police officers helped us reach here. The foods are great, and the hospital is taking good care of the patients. Now my child has received a comprehensive examination and his condition has stabilized," said Pug Rayul, father of an injured kid.

"We are from Maru Township, and the ambulance took us here from the quake-hit area. Medical staff come every half an hour to check if our blood pressures and other data are normal. They also prepared bedding and other daily necessities for us," said Namchoe Gya, family member of an injured resident.

A local of Sog County brought free foods to the patients at the hospital Friday morning.

"I brought more than 100 servings of Tibetan noodle, as well as Tibetan tea and tsampa. I prepared all these myself. I feel very happy to be able to help others," said Norbu Wangchen, the local.

At least 16 people were killed and 76 others were injured after the quake jolted Baqen County at 22:33 Beijing time (1433 GMT) on Thursday.

Post-quake medical treatment goes smoothly at county hospital in Xizang