The tiger once roamed the forests of northeastern China, however extensive logging has laid waste to the forests on the Chinese side of the ecosystem, which von Bismarck said is a highly unique area that enables the tiger to survive. Many of the trees in that forest are old, meaning they are tall and drop enough nuts and fruit to the ground to provide subsistence for the smaller animals that provide food for the tiger. Without the small trees, the animals that depend on them for food are unable to find enough to eat during the ferocious winters that cake the region in snow and ice. Those trees are an appealing target to loggers, as they are a source of high quality oak, linden and numerous other types of wood that fetch value on the open market. The rural forest is a large area, where brutal winters and the dwindling presence of Russian law enforcement since the collapse of the Soviet Union have created an appealing target. Read more..
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 08:00:45 +0000