Photo: IEMT RAS, Pkhitikov A. The female Persian leopard named Khosta, released in 2022 in the Turmon Nature Reserve (Republic of North Ossetia-Alania) as part of the Program for the Restoration of the Persian Leopard in the Caucasus, which is being implemented by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources with scientific support from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and other scientific organizations, continues to live successfully in the wild. New evidence of her well-being was obtained thanks to fresh photographs from camera traps installed in Kabardino-Balkaria by specialists from the A.K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, who are part of the scientific group monitoring the released leopards. One of the camera traps, installed in a typical leopard biotope - a broad-leaved forest of oak, hornbeam and other species with glades partially overgrown with rose hips, filmed Khosta at dusk - the usual time of predator activity. This territory is rich in game: during the inspection of the site, numerous tracks of a wild boar and a brown bear were registered (tracks belong to different individuals, including different ages), in addition, a red deer was sighted. This confirms that the female leopard chooses areas with an abundant food supply, which is critically important for her survival and reproduction. A special analysis of data from a GPS transmitter installed on Khosta showed that she chooses broad-leaved forests most often (2933 locations), uses small-leaved and broad-leaved forests less (405 locations), and visits floodplain meadows and xerophytic shrubs extremely rarely. At the same time, in different biotopes, Khosta moves at different speeds: faster in xerophytic thickets (over 1 km/h), and slower in forests (267-296 m/h). Khosta does not stay in one place all the time - for example, in 2023, she successfully mastered a vast area in Chechnya. Photo: IEMT RAS, Pkhitikov A. "New footage from camera traps confirms that Khosta not only survives, but also hunts successfully, choosing optimal habitats for it," notes Vyacheslav Rozhnov, head of the scientific group monitoring released leopards, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, doctor of biological sciences, head of the laboratory of behavior and behavioral ecology of mammals at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. "Her behavior is completely consistent with the behavior of its wild relatives, which gives hope for the restoration of a sustainable population of the Central Asian leopard in the Caucasus. An article about this will soon be published, prepared by us together with colleagues from Iran, who studied the wild population of this predator." The survival and well-being of Khosta for three years is a significant indicator of the success of the project, the essence of which is not only the revival of a rare and beautiful species of cats, but also helps to restore the balance of the region's ecosystems, historically disturbed by human activity. In this regard, the restoration of the leopard, which was exterminated by humans in the middle of the last century, is very important for the ecology of the Caucasus. Reintroduction of large predators is a complex process that requires the integration of ecology, ethology and nature conservation methods. The success of Khosta proves that the program for the restoration of wildlife through the return of key species (rewilding), which in the Caucasus includes, among others, the Persian leopard, works. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia with scientific support from a number of scientific organizations. Monitoring of Khosta continues, its results will help improve strategies for the reintroduction of rare species in the future.

An expedition to the Greater Khingan Mountains (China), conducted in the second half of July 2025, has been completed. Work on verifying habitat types in this region has been ongoing since 2023 and continues a series of studies previously conducted in the Lesser Khingan. The essence of the work is to describe habitats and their unique characteristics on the ground; the description plan is not random and is based on preliminary stratification and identification of distinct habitat types carried out on the basis of satellite images of the Earth, which were photographed from space for a certain territory in different seasons. The project is being implemented by the A. N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) jointly with the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Sciences. The expedition was also attended by geobotany specialists from the Faculty of Geography of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and zoologists from the A. K. Tembotov Institute of Mountain Ecology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The project is part of the tiger restoration assessment program in northern Heilongjiang Province, which was initiated in 2017 and is an example of successful cooperation between Russia and China in the field of ecology and biodiversity conservation. The expedition surveyed various forest types in northeastern China (Da Hinggan Ling County, Heilongjiang Province), primarily in the Greater Hinggan Mountains (China), which continues the Hinggan Mountain Range that extends from the Stanovoy Range (Russia). The focal points for the research were identified in advance based on satellite imagery analysis, taking into account the results of previous surveys of the area. The main objective was to verify the identified areas through geobotanical descriptions of the sites and collection of data on the local fauna. The current expedition focused on geobotanical descriptions, while a similar joint winter expedition in 2025 focused on describing animal tracks found on the snow surface. The field team, consisting of Russian and Chinese specialists, planned the routes in advance, taking into account the accessibility of the area. As a result, different types of forests were surveyed both along the main roads connecting settlements and far from them. The total length of the routes was over 800 km, about 60 points were described, including coniferous forests, swamps and agricultural lands. During the snowless period, the presence of seven species of large and medium-sized mammals was confirmed: roe deer, musk deer, wild boar, wolverine, sable, American mink and Siberian weasel. The diversity of forests and the structure of the undergrowth indicate the potential suitability of the territory for the habitation of prosperous populations of large mammals, including predators, however, in the summer it is still difficult to obtain complete data on the fauna. Among the described biotopes are forest and meadow communities, swamp areas, as well as areas with anthropogenically modified vegetation. Larch and small-leaved-larch forests with an undergrowth of honeysuckle, rose hips and hazel prevail on drained slopes. In the marshy areas, shrub communities with wild rosemary, lingonberry and blueberry are widespread. Marshes occupy vast areas in river valleys and are represented by various types - from sedge hummocks to sphagnum massifs. The data obtained will be used to further assess the region's potential as part of the tiger restoration program. "The results of the expedition are important for understanding the potential of the Greater Khingan as a site for tiger reintroduction. Now we see that the ecosystem here may be only partially suitable for the tiger, and further monitoring is required," noted Maria Chistopolova. A significant volume of field descriptions was obtained from the expedition work in the winter and summer of 2025 (about 170 verification points). The obtained field materials will form the basis for mapping habitat types and modeling their suitability for the tiger in the Greater Khingan mountain system area of ​​more than 8 million hectares. The following winter expeditions have already been planned, their tasks include collecting additional information necessary to achieve the minimum required sample. The next stages of the work include analysis of the collected materials and preparation of recommendations for nature conservation programs in China and Russia. Photos by: Rodnikova A., Aristarkhova E., Chistopolova M., Pkhitikov A., Kotlov I.

Photo: Analysis of the catch of water traps-weirs, is there anyone who isn’t there... Photo by O. Makarova. You can get to this place at the foot of Mongun-Taiga (2200 m above sea level) by "loaf" and bring "furniture" for work. Therefore, the dismantling of beetle stains takes place in quite comfortable conditions. There is another kilometer up to the glacier and 5-6 km to the side. Beetles caught in live traps are already laying eggs in the laboratories of Moscow State Pedagogical University, the larvae of many species are undescribed. Photo by O. Makarova. In July-August 2025, a complex zoological expedition of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) and the Moscow State Pedagogical University (MPGU) worked in Tuva, on the territory of the coldest and highest part of the State Nature Biosphere Reserve "Ubsunur Basin" - Mongun-Taiga. The task was not an easy one - to confirm the habitation (and, possibly, the origin) of a number of cryobiont (living in the cold) animal species, still considered Arctic, in the mountains of Southern Siberia. A rare biotope in the mountain steppe conditions - a small lake on the slope of Mongun-Taiga, 2600 m above sea level. Lots of ​​beetles and crayfish (we caught them all). Photo by O. Makarova The main objects of the work were soil and amphibious invertebrates. Extensive collections of microarthropods (ticks and springtails), earthworms and enchytraeid worms, mollusks, beetles, dipterans, bumblebees, etc. were carried out. A variety of collection methods were used - forcing soil arthropods in eclectors (Tulgren funnels), water funnels (Rombke method), catching with soil and water traps with bait, flotation of loose substrates, catching flying insects with yellow plates that attract them and with different nets during mowing, siftage of litter, setting traps for aeroplankton, manual catching (including at night using light). Cryoconites on the ice surface of Mongun-Taiga, 3200 m above sea level. The sediment accumulated on the bottom has been collected. We do not yet know who lives there. Such work has not yet been done in Russia, but a whole zoo has been discovered in the glaciers of Spitsbergen. Photo by O. Makarova. Work was also carried out on the retreating Mongun-Taiga glacier (it has retreated by approximately 1.5 km over the past 150 years). Numerous traps were installed on its surface to catch aeroplankton, and 5 liters of sand and debris in the ice deposits were flotated, and the inhabitants of cryoconites ('cups' - thawed patches on the ice filled with dark substrate) were collected. The main inhabitants of the Mongun-Taiga ice surface are springtails - amazing creatures with a jumping fork at the end of their body and a sucker on their chest - the most numerous six-legged animals on Earth. Only their small size (0.3-2 mm) is responsible for their little renown. Springtails of the genus Desoria (s. l.) live directly on the surface of the Mongun-Taiga ice, where they apparently feed on microscopic cold-loving algae and fungi. It probably represents a new species for science, as has happened more than once when studying springtails from the glaciers of the Alps and the Caucasus. Collembola living directly on ice (Desoria s.l. sp.). Beautiful as flowers, similar to those that live on the glaciers of the European Alps. About 40 specimens were obtained by flotation of 5 liters of sand collected from the surface of the Mongun-Taiga glacier, 3200 m above sea level. Photo by M. Antipova. In addition, a series of samples of fresh ungulate excrement were collected along the altitudinal gradient: in the floodplain of the Kargy River in the vicinity of the village of Mugur-Aksy (1800 m, cows), in the middle reaches of the Mugur River (2100 m, khainaks and yaks), at the foot of the Mongun-Tayga glacier (2500 m, yaks). The samples will be examined for intestinal parasites by specialists from the Parasitology Center of the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. A trap for aeroplankton installed on the eastern tongue of the Mongun-Taiga glacier, 3200 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. Working with microscopic mites and springtails requires lengthy processing (currently these are only alcohol tests – distillations in eclectors), but among the beetles, numerous “arctic” species have already been identified, the finds of which during the ascent to the mountains began only at 2500 m. Part of the collected material will be sent to fellow specialists in various cities and countries: in Russia – to employees of biological institutions in St. Petersburg, Arkhangelsk, Nalchik, Tyumen, Perm, Novosibirsk, Vladivostok, as well as in Hungary, Canada and Poland. Important discoveries are certainly awaiting us, including new to science species of invertebrates. These bright mountain flowers are found in different areas of the Mongun-Taiga massif, but never lower than 2700 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. At all stages of the research, the expedition received help and care from the reserve's employees - rangers, drivers, employees of the scientific department, management; it was always confident in the safety of the work carried out, although the camp had to be set up three times in different areas of Mongun-Taiga at altitudes of over 2200 m. But the detachment always reliably returned to the base - to the hospitable home of the family of Valery Kyrgyz and Chechek Shambul. A herd of yaks, no shades of red (black, white or grey). Quite timid. Easily interbreed with cows, hybrids (hainaks) are even more colourful, but the males are sterile. In this herd, 2600 m above sea level, there are only yaks (about 140 heads). The calves look like dogs - shaggy, galloping... Photo by O. Makarova The expedition got lucky with the weather. Although the tent had to be dug out of the snow on the first night, not a single working day was lost. A large amount of very valuable scientific material was collected. But one very important Arctic endemic, a small (only 3 mm) circumpolar weevil Isochnus arcticus, which feeds only on one species of creeping willows (Salix arctica), was not found despite great efforts. This means that the search will continue, possibly in other areas of Mongun-Taiga. Head of the Synecology Lab of the IEE RAS, PhD in Biology O.L. Makarova Weighing soil samples for water funnels - accounting for enchytraeid worms. Field camp in the upper reaches of the Mugur River, 2200 m above sea level, a rare hour without wind. Photo by O. Makarova. Field camp in the forest belt, middle reaches of the Mugur River, 2100 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova. Until now, the collections of the Zoological Institute (ZIN) did not contain a single dung beetle from Mongun-Taiga. As it turned out, yak dung in these extreme conditions is quite suitable for the development of at least 6 beetle species from 3 families. Photo by O. Makarova. Extracts from Romble traps. The living, usually small enchytraeids from these areas require urgent fixation (their extremely thin membranous integuments macerate very quickly). Sometimes, I had to go entirely without sleep. Extraction in the village of Mugur-Aksy, 1800 m above sea level. Photo by O. Makarova.

Amphibious fishes are a facultative air-breathing fishes defined by their innate ability to spend part of their life out of water. These fishes not only remain on land but also move across the ground in various ways. A wide diversity of fish species exhibits amphibious behaviors for multiple reasons, including specialized feeding strategies, reproductive activities, predator avoidance, competition reduction in densely populated habitats, or as a response to environmental stressors such as elevated water temperatures or significant decreases in water levels. However, our current understanding of the factors driving terrestrial movement in fishes does not clearly elucidate the internal mechanisms responsible for initiating this behavior. Russian and Vietnamese scientists conducted an experimental study aimed at investigating the endocrinological and biochemical changes in the blood of climbing perch Anabas testudineus associated with terrestrial movements. A specialized testing apparatus was employed to evaluate differences in biochemical parameters between fish held in aquatic conditions and those during terrestrial movements induced by a rapid decrease in water levels. The concentrations of eight biochemical parameters were measured using ELISA and biochemistry analyzer in individual blood serum samples. The study showed that climbing perch primarily undertakes terrestrial movements in response to significant environmental stressors, such as the rapid decline in water levels observed in this study. Both primary and secondary stress responses were identified in climbing perch, characterized by elevated levels of cortisol and glucose in the blood serum of individuals exposed to terrestrial conditions, compared to fish maintained in aquatic environments. Based on these findings, it was suggested that terrestrial movements in climbing perch are often forced and carry a high risk of mortality, as their on-land navigation and ability to locate new water bodies have not been conclusively demonstrated. SRS of IEE RAS, Efim Pavlov reported: “The changes in lipid and enzyme profiles indicate energy mobilization in climbing perch during terrestrial movements. This process imposes a significant energetic cost on the fish compared to their regular swimming.” The present study offers the first detailed insights into the biochemical mechanisms underlying the adaptation of amphibious fish to terrestrial locomotion. Understanding the adaptive potential of these fish is crucial for informing their conservation prospects amid increasing anthropogenic pressures on freshwater environments. Terrestrial movements are a key aspect of the life cycle of amphibious fish, contributing to their survival and supporting the maintenance of population diversity under the influence of global warming. Article was published in Stresses journal: Stress and Energy Mobilization Responses of Climbing Perch Anabas testudineus During Terrestrial Locomotion, Efim D. Pavlov, Tran Duc Dien and Ekaterina V. Ganzha, Stresses 2025, 5(3), 45.

Fig. 1. Young shrubby alder growing near closed shrub communities. Although shrub expansion creates a complex canopy structure, it usually results in a sharp decline in local species diversity. The herbaceous plants, dwarf shrubs, lichens, and mosses visible beneath this young shrub will likely disappear as the emerging shrub canopy becomes taller and denser. An international team of researchers from the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), HSE, the University of Virginia (UVA), and Alaska Biological Research applied artificial intelligence to study the distribution of shrub alder (Alnus alnobetula fruticosa) at the northern timberline in Siberia. The paper presents an innovative method for analyzing satellite images using convolutional neural networks. The technique opens up new possibilities for monitoring the effects of climate change in the circumpolar region, combining high accuracy with unprecedented speed of analysis. The study covered three key areas in the Siberian Subarctic. The neural network analyzed almost a million 12x12 m plots based on high-resolution satellite images taken at intervals of 10-15 years. The results showed that the rate of shrub formation varies from 2.4% to 26.1% per decade depending on local conditions. The main factors for shrub formation are heat supply and drainage: shrubs often occupy well-drained, warmed areas, as well as those located near existing shrub communities. The first stages of development of a new territory occur on flat, somewhat wetter surfaces, while closed shrub alder forests formed on warm and dry surfaces. "The new method of data processing is hundreds of times faster than traditional approaches with high accuracy. The use of a neural network that classifies landscapes into four categories (from a complete absence of shrubs to closed shrub communities) made it possible to obtain a more detailed picture compared to simplified binary models," said Ksenia Ermokhina, PhD in Geographical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the IEE RAS. Changes in vegetation associated with the spread of shrub alder have serious ecological consequences. Shrubs affect surface albedo, snow cover properties, and soil temperature, which can lead to an increase in the greenhouse effect in the region. The work was published in the Journal of Ecology: Landscape patterns of shrubification in the Siberian Low Arctic, Anna Derkacheva, Gerald V. Frost, Howard E. Epstein, Ksenia Ermokhina, 02.08.2025. Related materials: RAS: "Artificial intelligence helps scientists study tundra shrubbery"

The monograph “Marine and Brackish-Water Gastropods of Russia and Adjacent Countries: Illustrated Catalog” is available for reading and downloading on the IEE RAS website. The authors of the monograph are Yu. I. Kantor and A. V. Sysoev. This is the first and so far the only complete illustrated catalog of marine and brackish-water gastropods of the fauna of Russia and the former USSR. The fauna in question consists of 1,240 species-level taxa, 350 genera, and 110 families of Gastropoda. For each species, references are provided to the original description, synonymy, type locality, information on types, and data on distribution in the specified region. Illustrations, mostly color photographs, are provided for 1,154 species. Preference is given to type specimens for species described from the territory in question. For other species, specimens on which the findings were based are used. The bibliography includes 790 titles. The text is completely bilingual (Russian and English). You can download the monograph from the link.

Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation A Jack Russell Terrier named Zhuzha was taught to search for whales by smell. This is the first time such an experiment has been conducted in our country. In the future, the animal’s unique skills will help scientists in their work on studying rare cetaceans. The project is being implemented by the Nature and People Foundation with the support of the Siberian Wellness “World Around You” Foundation in partnership with the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The experiment started a year ago. Then Zhuzha became a  full-fledged participant in the expedition  to study bowhead whales in the Sea of Okhotsk. She tolerated the seas well, easily adapted to life on a ship, and showed the makings of a good whale “seeker”. This year, scientists went to the coast of the Barents Sea, whose waters house the endangered humpback whales, Minke whales, killer whales, porpoises, and other marine mammals. The team went out to sea five times, and each time Zhuzha demonstrated excellent “nose work”. Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation "We were pleasantly surprised that our little colleague had not lost her skills in a year: on the very first day, she showed a very good reaction and immediately "stayed" when approaching the whales, despite the strong pitching and lack of visual contact," says junior researcher at the Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yulia Ganitskaya. "Later, we managed to show her different marine mammals, and she actively responded to each of them, showing that she recognized the smell." Scientists note that the experiment can and should be continued. And there are plans for another experiment: to teach the dog to distinguish between sea animals and give a different reaction to each of them. It can also help in the search for whale excrement - biological material is not easy to obtain, but it is an important source of information about the whales' food supply, the presence of parasites, hormone levels, etc. Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation During the expedition, the scientists also surveyed the coast and were able to assess the prospects for studying humpback whales in the Barents Sea. “The northern coast of the Kola Peninsula could become an excellent location for scientific research,” noted Alexandra Semenova, an expert at the Nature and People Foundation. “In particular, Ura Bay is a good place from a logistics point of view, and is not as developed by tourists as neighboring Teriberka. It is convenient to go out to sea from here to conduct photogrammetry, collect biopsies, or tag whales, and a point for observing marine mammals could be comfortably located on the coast.” Photo © IEE RAS / "Nature and People" Foundation Related materials: Afisha: "A small but brave nose: how Russian scientists are training the dog Zhuzha to find whales" Pravmir: "Jack Russell Terrier Zhuzha has become the first dog-biodetector of whales in Russia" TASS Science: "The coast of the Kola Peninsula may become a location for studying whales" Pravda: "Whales under control: who is helping scientists in the Arctic - you won't believe it" Vesti GTRK Murman: "In the Murmansk region, a dog was taught to search for whales in the dark and fog" Krasnaya Vesna: "A dog was trained in the Barents Sea to search for whales by smell" News of the Murmansk region: "She can find them by the smell: Jack Russell Zhuzha learned to search for whales in the Barents Sea"   ASI: "A base may appear on the Ura Bay on the Kola Peninsula for the study of whales"

Photo: K.D. Kondrakova Ornithologists have summed up the disappointing results of the second stage of the project to preserve the rare demoiselle crane. Another expedition to count birds listed in the Red Book of the Russian Federation confirms the fears of specialists: the species is disappearing in the European part of Russia. The demoiselle crane conservation project has been implemented for the second year by specialists from the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS), Valentin Ilyashenko, Elena Ilyashenko and Kristina Kondrakova. In June of this year, the scientists examined suboptimal habitats of the cranes in the Volgograd and Saratov Trans-Volga regions. The route, about 3 thousand km long, was planned based on the results of a preliminary survey conducted in April. During the survey, ornithologists encountered fewer pairs of cranes than in the spring, although they expected the opposite result: usually in the summer heat, pairs with chicks stand in the shade of poles or come to drink. Photo: E.I. Ilyashenko "During the expedition, the weather was not hot, it was constantly raining, and the couples did not need to come to drink at the livestock points or hide in the shade of the poles. Basically, we found only those couples that were seen incubating in the spring, although we had to look for them specifically. This is very different from the demoiselle count in previous years, when cranes were noted along the entire route," said expedition participant, candidate of biological sciences Elena Ilyashenko. Photo: E.I. Ilyashenko In Kalmykia, in the optimal habitats of the Priergeninskaya sloping plain, where about 40 pairs were counted last spring and 21 chicks were tagged in the summer, there are also fewer demoiselles. This spring, only 5 pairs were counted, and in general, only 8 chicks aged 35-45 days were ringed in Kalmykia. "Another five pairs were leading downy chicks from repeated clutches, which is probably due to the cold weather in May during the incubation period," said expedition member, candidate of biological studies Valentin Ilyashenko.

August 6 marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Georgy Aleksandrovich Viktorov (1925–1974), one of the most outstanding entomologists, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences, and head of the laboratory at the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Evolutionary Morphology and Ecology of Animals of the USSR Academy of Sciences (now the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences). From 1943 to 1946, Georgy Aleksandrovich served in the Soviet Army, first on the Central Front, then on the 2nd Far Eastern Front. His time in the army during the war years left a deep imprint on his character and worldview, and taught him to love people and life in all its manifestations. Georgy Aleksandrovich made a great contribution to agricultural entomology by analyzing the factors that determine the dynamics of insect pests and developing biological methods for controlling the population of such insects. As a taxonomist, he studied true wasps (family Ichneumonidae) — an exceptionally species-rich and extremely difficult to identify group. At the Department of Entomology at Lomonosov Moscow State University, Georgy Aleksandrovich taught courses in agricultural entomology and entomophage ecology. Shortly before his death, he became the editor-in-chief of the Zoological Journal. Unfortunately, he died before he even reached 50 years of age, but he managed to do a lot and left a good memory of himself. You can read more about the life of Georgy Aleksandrovich on our website: https://sev-in.ru/viktorov-georgiy-aleksandrovich Related materials: RAS: "100th Anniversary of the Birth of the Outstanding Soviet Entomologist, Corresponding Member of the USSR Academy of Sciences Georgy Viktorov"

From July 15 to 23, 2025, a working meeting of the staff of the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IEE RAS) with colleagues from the Northeast Forestry University (NEFU) was held in Harbin, China. The visit of the Russian specialists attracted a lot of attention - a special report about the work of the delegation was aired on the Chinese Central Television CNR (the story is available at the link). The visit was devoted to discussing the current results and prospects for further research within the Joint Russian-Chinese Research Laboratory for the Conservation and Restoration of the Amur Tiger. During the meeting, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Vyacheslav Rozhnov gave a lecture on the conservation and restoration of the Amur tiger in Russia, China and Kazakhstan, emphasizing the importance of using the experience of IEE RAS scientists and cross-border cooperation to protect this rare species Particular attention during the visit was paid to the practical aspects of interaction between humans and predators. Anna Yachmennikova presented the document "HUMAN-TIGER CONFLICT SOLUTIONS" developed by Russian specialists, containing practical recommendations for preventing conflicts between tigers and people. The document, based on the best Russian practices and recommendations for people living in tiger habitats and global experience in effective solutions and management of human-wildlife conflicts, was agreed upon by Chinese colleagues and has already been recommended for use by the Chinese authorities. The following materials were used in preparing the document: "Rules of Conduct and Keeping Domestic Animals in Tiger Habitats" (Yu. Dunishenko, Russia); "Recommendations for Keeping a Neighborhood with Wild Animals Free of Conflict" (D. Matyukhina and E. Blidchenko, Land of the Leopard National Park); "Managing Tiger-human Conflicts Guide" (PANTHERA); "IUCN Guidelines on Conflict and Coexistence between Humans and Wildlife" (2024); research on the coexistence of humans and big cats (Cat News Special Issue, 2022). The document offers practical measures for local residents, regional and federal authorities aimed at reducing conflicts and their consequences. IEE RAS specialists Jose Antonio Hernandez Blanco and Dmitry Alexandrov conducted a unique training course for their Chinese colleagues on the safe capture of large predators, based on 20 years of Russian research experience. This is especially relevant in the prompt resolution of situations involving the capture of a conflict tiger in or near a populated area. According to Chinese specialists, such cases have become more frequent in northeastern China over the past two years. These methods, as shown by the CNR television report, have aroused particular interest among Chinese specialists. The visit also included a discussion of new joint projects – from studying tiger parasites to studying the sleep of these animals. A special honor for the Russian delegation was the awarding of the titles of honorary professors of the Institute of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Sciences to Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences V.V. Rozhnov and Senior Researcher A.A. Yachmennikova. The wide resonance that the work of Russian scientists in China has received clearly demonstrates the importance and demand for Russian experience in the field of preserving rare species of animals. This cooperation opens up new prospects for joint work to protect the Amur tiger - a unique representative of the world fauna.