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Primorsky Krai's Bold Plan to Keep Tigers Away from Humans

A desperate bid to save lives—and tigers. By rewilding deer, Russia's Far East hopes to lure predators away from villages before it's too late.

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2 min read
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Primorsky Krai's Bold Plan to Keep Tigers Away from Humans

Primorsky Krai is launching a new wildlife program to reduce dangerous encounters between humans and Amur tigers. The initiative will breed deer for release into the wild, aiming to expand the prey base and draw tigers deeper into the forest. Officials have allocated over 10 million rubles from the regional budget to fund the project's first phase.

The program comes after years of rising human-tiger conflicts in the region. Between 2010 and 2025, the Russian Far East recorded 22 tiger attacks on people, with 13 causing injuries and 9 proving fatal. The worst-affected areas included southern and eastern forest zones near settlements, particularly around Ussuriysk, Khabarovsk's border regions, and protected areas like the Lazovsky and Sikhote-Alin reserves. Over 50 incidents were documented in Lazovsky alone, with 30 more in Sikhote-Alin, according to reports from Russian environmental authorities and WWF data.

Since early 2026, nine adult tigers considered a threat to humans have been captured in the region. The new breeding complex, spanning 50 hectares, will focus on raising deer to bolster the wild ungulate population. Funds will cover enclosure construction, equipment, and the purchase and care of breeding animals. By increasing prey availability, the project aims to redirect tiger movements away from human-inhabited areas.

The effort also seeks to support broader biodiversity in Primorsky Krai. A stronger prey base could stabilise tiger populations while reducing the risk of attacks. Conservationists hope the released deer will encourage tigers to remain deeper in the forest, minimising conflicts with local communities.

The first phase of the program is now underway, with a dedicated breeding site and initial funding secured. If successful, the initiative could lower the number of tiger-related incidents in high-risk zones. Authorities will monitor its impact on both wildlife populations and human safety in the coming years.

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