每三年12公里，它们正从中俄边境向我国内陆扩散

随着中国境内人类活动减少、栖息地改善以及中俄之间的通道更加畅通，有个种群正在逐渐从中俄边境向我国内陆快速扩散，它们就是传说中的东北虎（Amur tigers），又名西伯利亚虎（Siberian tigers）。

东北林业大学姜广顺教授的研究团队发现，从2003年到2016年，东北虎种群由中俄边境地区以每三年大约12公里的速度向中国内陆扩散。

Jiang Guangshun, a professor of wild animal resources at the Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, said his research team calculates that the area the tigers inhabited across the Sino-Russian border expanded by about 12 kilometers every three years from 2003 to 2016.

研究团队的数据显示，2013年至2016年期间，近80％的东北虎在中俄边境穿梭。

Data from the research team show that between 2013 and 2016, nearly 80 percent of the tigers shuttled back and forth across the border.

“随着中国自然栖息地的恢复，越来越多的东北虎在这里繁殖，这意味着它们正在逐渐扩散进来，”姜广顺表示。

“As natural habitats are being restored in China, more Amur tigers are giving birth and raising cubs in the country, meaning that they are gradually expanding into China,” Jiang said.

2021年，东北虎豹国家公园宣布设立，公园的面积约为14100平方公里，横跨吉林和黑龙江两个省份。到2021年底，公园内野生东北虎的数量已增加到50只。

In 2021, it was announced that the Northeast China Tiger and Leopard National Park would be established, along with four other parks across the country. The park, covering approximately 14,100 square kilometers, straddles the provinces of Heilongjiang and Jilin. By the end of 2021, the number of wild Amur tigers living in the facility had risen to 50 from 27 in 2017.

姜广顺表示，在20世纪80年代之前，至少有150只东北虎生活在中国东北的森林中。然而，该地区的经济发展使它们的数量下降到十几只左右。自1998年以来，中国开始在森林保护和社会发展之间寻求平衡，并启动了各种保护项目，东北虎的数量逐渐增加。

Jiang said that before the 1980s, at least 150 Amur tigers lived in the forests of Northeast China. However, economic development in the area saw their numbers fall to about 12. In 1998, China began balancing economic development with forest protection, and started a number of conservation projects. As a result, the tiger population has grown.

姜教授表示，由于虎类对栖息地的要求较高，因此它们的保护被全球公认为一项挑战。一只雌虎需要400到500平方公里的活动区域，而一只雄虎需要超过1000平方公里。

"The conservation of tigers is recognized as a global challenge, due to their expansive habitat requirements. A female needs 400 to 500 sq km, while a male requires over 1,000 sq km," Jiang said.

他表示，中俄跨境国际生态走廊至关重要，双方都需要努力推动建设。”

The construction of the Sino-Russian cross-border environmental corridor is vital because several barriers hinder the movement of tigers between the two sides. Border fences and roads built in the area are among those obstacles. Efforts are required by both sides to promote the corridor," he said.

黑龙江省东宁市林业和草原局局长王志刚表示，随着野猪和鹿等猎物种群的增加，东北虎从俄罗斯进入中国，寻求丰富的食物。东北虎的活动范围将继续扩散。

Wang Zhigang, head of Dongning’s forestry bureau, said: “As the population of prey species including wild boar and deer rises, Amur tigers are venturing farther into China for food. The expansion of the tigers’ range is expected to continue.”

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出品人：徐小丹 纪涛

监制：田驰 雷小峋

插画：苏靖博

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动画制作：李欣磊 苏靖博

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编辑：赵欣莹