The programme has the support of the community which they will serve, who have given the programme a building, gas and electricity to work out of. PACLA are in need of equipment and a few funds to start up.

In Summer 2012 Amur Leopard and Tiger Alliance (ALTA) was approached by WCS Russia with a request for funds to enable them to carry out survey work in China, specifically Hunchun Nature Reserve. The intention would be to teach Chinese teams the best methods for conducting track and camera trap surveys with the hope of establishing how Amur leopards and tigers are using their habitat across the border from Russia. As the teams in China were new to this work it was a good opportunity to ensure the data collection methods, they used were of the highest calibre and are providing good quality data from the outset.ALTA were very happy to be able to provide these additional funds as it is imperative to know exactly what the situation is for the whole range these big cats are using and not just the Russian areas. Realistically their only hope for expansion is into China so we were keen to establish whether there were any resident animals in these areas already or whether any animals seen in China were just transients.Female TigerIn the winter of 2012 staff from WCS China found tracks of what appeared to be an adult female and a large cub and this was the first indication that perhaps there were resident tigers in Hunchun. Video footage of a female tiger (possibly the same one) scent marking a bush was then recorded in Summer 2013 and as this behaviour is usually performed by territorial adults, this is a strong indication that this female is a resident and not a transient with Hunchun Nature Reserve representing an important part of her home range. The same camera trap then recorded a male tiger a few weeks later who could well be a resident also.This marks an important milestone in the recovery of tigers in China and this resident population could begin the true recovery of Amur tiger numbers in northeast China.While we are still waiting for leopard numbers in Hunchun, the latest estimates suggest there are 5-10 Amur leopards using Hunchun in some capacity, but as with the tigers, up until now they have only been transient leopards. We hope that by funding additional survey work in China in 2014 we will get a much clearer overview of their current status.The population monitoring of course continues in southwest Primorye in Russia with positive news. In winter 2011 WCS caught images of a young male leopard walking along a snowy ridge. He had not been seen before and was more than likely a young male dispersing from his mother and looking for a home range of his own. He was spotted again in 2012 looking larger and far more confident and then in spring 2013 he was seen again but this time in the company of a female! Fantastic news!

Camera trap picture of Male Amur leopard being captured in winter 2011 and then again, accompanied by a female in April 2013. (Images curtesy of WCS Russia)

It is essential that the population monitoring of both Amur leopards and tigers continues to provide us with information about how these extremely threatened animals are faring in difficult times. In 2014 we hope to fund a project submitted by WCS China in order to extend the work that has now been started.

Although there is no shortage of people willing to do the work, e.g. WCS and ZSL, they can only do it when funds are available. ALTA is very fortunate in being able to help fund these projects but we in turn rely on the kind donations of zoos and individuals. We would therefore like to thank Barbara Meyer and Photography for Big Cats CIC for the hard work put into fundraising and the generous funds subsequently donated to ALTA.

Fundraising with Barbara MeyerBarbara Meyer Fundraises relentlessly at various UK zoos over the summer season for big cat conservation. Barbara supports ALTA, WVI, 21st Century Tiger, who all work with tigers and Amur leopards and the Landmark Foundation who work to conserve African leopards. You can find out more about those she supports here.WVI attended at two fundrasing events in September 2013 with Barbara. The first at Heythrop Zoological Gardens and then at International Tiger and Leopard Day at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Our effort would have not have been productive without her experience and our Amur tiger and leopard projects definitely quite a number of pounds lighter. WVI and Barbara Meyer fundraising at INTERNATIONAL TIGER AND LEOPARD DAY AT YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK. Photocredit SHARON DOORBAR

As well as being a font of all knowledge on tiger and leopard conservation, Barbara is an excellent photographer, not only selling her pictures as badges, magnets or as prints but taking people on photographic courses to zoos around the country and giving talks on taking pictures of wildlife.

For more information, please see her website.

WVI would like to thank Barbara for the £1,797.69 that she raised in 2013 and hopes she continues to support us in 2014.