Amur Tiger Conservation Education Program
opportunity to participate in their resolution. Nowadays, Phoenix organizes Tiger Day
Festivals in Vladivostok, Luchegorsk, Novopokrovka, Slavyanka, Partizansk, Terney,
Kirovka and Lazo towns.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year 2010 is the Year of the Tiger. Thus, many
events devoted to tiger conservation were scheduled for 2010. The Global Tiger Initiative,
launched by the World Bank and International Tiger Coalition in June 2008, called to
convene in 2010 the "Year of the Tiger" Summit where leaders of 13 tiger-range
countries and international organizations could announce their specific commitments to
save these unique wild animals. The Tiger Summit was to be held in Vladivostok and was
planned to coincide with the Tiger Day-2010. Unfortunately, it was decided to hold the
summit in St.Petersburg instead of Vladivostok, but it did not lessen the significance of
Tiger Day in cities of Primorye. Everywhere in Primorye where Tiger Day was celebrated
an increase in participation rates were observed. The traditional holiday received wide
coverage in the local mass media.
Tiger Day in Terney
Fancy make-up
© Phoenix
In 2010, Tiger Day in Terney celebrated
for the fifth time. Initially, it was
planned to be hold on October 10, but
due to bad weather conditions it was
rescheduled for October 13. In the run-
up of the holiday Galina Maksimova,
leader of the Uragus eco-club, sent out
information about the holiday to nine
local villages of Terneisky district. Also,
she mailed small packages with Tiger
Day promotional materials and prizes
(calendars, CDs, etc.) to Agzu, Svetlaya,
Yedinka, Amgu, Malaya Kema and
other villages. In September, a
Photography Contest was announced in
Terneisky district. As many as 12 teams participated in the contest the task of which was
to submit no more than three photos illustrating three main reasons why tigers must be
protected. The winners were announced during the Tiger Day on October 13.
The holiday started at noon in front of the main entrance of the office of the Sikhote-
Alinsky Biosphere Nature Reserve. The hero of the day, Tiger Volodya (a disguised
actor) greeted everyone and led a procession along the central street of Terney. This year
the holiday attracted more spectators compared to the previous year. Onlookers gathers on
the streets, took photos of the children dressed in tiger costumes and waved at the
procession. As usual, festive atmosphere pervaded the town. Participants of the
procession screamed out various slogans to conserve Amur tigers and taiga. All in all,
over 350 people participated in the procession, including schoolchildren from Terney,
Amgu, Malaya Kema and Plastun villages, members of Uragus eco-club, teachers, and
staff members of Sikhote-Alinsky Biosphere Nature Reserve and specialists of the
Wildlife Conservation Society-Russia. The procession ended up in the park where
organizers prepared a lot of various events: games, contests, and shows. The winners of
various contests, namely "the best tiger costume", "the best tiger make-up”, “the best
song about tiger" and other, were awarded memorable prizes generally provided by the
22View entire presentation