Plush Tiger on its Journey across South of Primorsky Krai

VLADIVOSTOK. March 10. VOSTOK-MEDIA – The chronicle of the Tiger’s Path marathon is as follows: in early March, 900 schoolchildren of Khasansky District, Primorsky Krai, became participants in the krai-wide tiger conservation campaign.

From March 2nd through 4th WWF-Russia and Far Eastern Marine Preserve gave a series of lessons in eight schools of Khasan, Gvozdevo, Posyet, Kraskino and Slavyanka. These villages are located near the seashore, in immediate proximity to the marine preserve – the starting line of the Tiger’s Path marathon. The educational campaign aimed at conserving tigers and their habitat has been initiated by WWF and is presently underway in 15 natural reserves and 3 national parks in the Russian Far East with the assistance of student environmentalists.

“It was a high priority for us to provide residents of these villages with information on Amur tigers and the marine reserve as well as to inspire them to get into the spirit of the marathon and join the ranks of wildlife preservation movement,” says Valentina Vysotskaya, learning methodology specialist, Far Eastern Marine Reserve. “We are confident that children have not only learned a great deal about Amur tigers, but they also share their knowledge with their peers and parents.”

Schoolchildren of all ages attended lessons on tiger preservation. They learned about physical characteristics, range and habitat of Siberian tigers, as well as about the specially protected natural areas in the south of the Russian Far East, the events held as part of the Year of Tiger, and the local conservation organizations. At the end of each lesson a ceremony was held at which the children passed to each other a large plush tiger – the symbol of the marathon, which afterwards will continue its journey through the natural reserves and national parks of the Far East of the country.

This week, Kedrovaya Pad and WWF will give “tiger” lessons in schools of Primorskoye, Barabash and Zanadvorovka villages.