On November 18, a manchurian tiger entered a village in Boli County, Qitaihe City, Heilongjiang, injuring people, prompting neighboring counties and cities such as Mishan, Huanan, and Yilan to issue notices on strengthening manchurian tiger protection and prevention.
Screenshot from a video showing a tiger ramming the gate of a courtyard in Jixing Township, Boli County, Heilongjiang, on November 18.
Among them, the Mishan City Forestry and Grassland Bureau in Jixi issued a work notice to all townships and farms on November 18, stating the need to strengthen publicity and warnings regarding wildlife safety precautions. Through the establishment of warning signs, reminders, promotional banners, and other methods, they should effectively carry out publicity and warnings for wildlife safety precautions within their regions.
Avoid traveling alone. Try to travel in groups, especially when entering mountainous areas, farmland, and other regions where tigers may appear. If there are signs of tiger activity, such as footprints or feces, do not approach curiously but immediately move away.
Standardize the free-range management of livestock. Strengthen the management of livestock free-ranging in key areas, prohibit the free-ranging of livestock in these areas, and avoid incidents of livestock injury, which can result in property losses for the people.
Additionally, strictly implement the relevant information reporting system. Thoroughly implement the requirements for reporting wildlife information. After verifying wildlife-related information, promptly report it to the municipal government and forestry and grassland authorities through telephone and other channels. At the same time, promptly submit subsequent monitoring information.
On November 19, the Huanan County Forestry and Grassland Bureau in Jiamusi issued a related notice stating that recently, a tiger suspected of entering a village in Changtai Village, Jixing Township, Boli County, had injured people, posing a threat to the lives and property of nearby residents. As the incident occurred near Huanan County, to ensure the personal and property safety of residents, the Huanan County Forestry and Grassland Bureau hereby announces:
Prohibition of entering mountains. Residents are advised not to enter mountainous areas and nearby forests to avoid encounters with tigers and reduce unnecessary risks.
Strengthen livestock management. Livestock farmers must ensure the safety of their livestock, confining them in secure locations and avoiding free-ranging outdoors to prevent tiger attacks. Pay attention to personal safety. When villagers are active within and around the village, they should be vigilant, try to travel in groups, and avoid traveling alone. If tiger tracks are found, do not panic, do not attempt to drive them away or approach them, but immediately contact local forestry and grassland or public security departments and quickly find a safe place to take shelter.
Strengthen village patrols. Conduct inspections and protections around forest areas to ensure the safety of people’s lives and property. At the same time, we ask residents to actively cooperate and jointly do a good job in prevention. In case of emergencies, please promptly call the forestry and grassland department or the police.
Protect wildlife. Tigers are national first-level protected animals and are strictly protected by law. It is strictly prohibited for any unit or individual to harm or hunt tigers in any way; otherwise, they will be held legally responsible. Protecting wildlife is the responsibility and obligation of every one of us. Doing a good job in preventing and controlling the hazards of wildlife is also an important measure to ensure our own safety and interests. We hope that residents will enhance their awareness of wildlife protection, actively adopt effective prevention and control measures, and jointly create a beautiful environment where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.
The Yilan County Forestry and Grassland Bureau in Harbin reminds residents not to enter mountainous areas and nearby forests to avoid encounters with tigers and reduce unnecessary risks. Livestock farmers must ensure the safety of their livestock, confining them in secure locations and avoiding free-ranging outdoors to prevent tiger attacks.
Furthermore, on November 19, the WeChat official account of Chenming Town, Nancha County, Yichun City, forwarded an article titled “Precautions for Human-Tiger Conflict Prevention”.
The article introduces that adult male manchurian tigers can reach a length of 220cm and have an average weight of 165-180kg. Manchurian tigers mainly reproduce in summer. Newborn manchurian tiger cubs stay in caves near cliffs for the first 1-2 months and usually stay with their mothers until they are 19 months old. Manchurian tigers prefer to live in mixed forests formed by Korean pine and Mongolian oak, as well as areas with relatively gentle mountain slopes, but they generally show relatively low selectivity for various habitats and can appear in various habitats. Manchurian tigers mainly prey on large ungulates such as wild boars and red deer. The lack of natural prey can lead to large cats entering human settlements to prey on livestock as food, triggering conflicts with humans. Manchurian tigers are more active during dawn and dusk, with relatively fewer activities during the day.
Compared with other large cats, manchurian tigers can tolerate coexistence with humans and are not very aggressive. When in close proximity to humans, manchurian tigers often avoid direct encounters and quickly leave, rarely showing proactive aggression. However, they can become extremely aggressive when injured, hunting, or protecting their cubs. Personnel in forest areas should pay special attention to avoiding injured tigers, cubs, and hunting spots. The most common human-tiger conflicts occur when pets or livestock are attacked in residential areas or pastures. Poaching and traffic conflicts are also major types of conflicts.
The article advises: 1. In areas where manchurian tigers frequently appear, warning signs should be set up at important intersections to remind people entering the mountains to be vigilant and avoid direct encounters with tigers.
2. Avoid entering the mountains unless necessary. When entering the mountains, try to leave late and return early, avoid outdoor activities during dawn and dusk, carry emergency tools such as signal flares and fireworks, and avoid wearing brightly colored clothing.
3. Try to avoid entering forest areas alone. When active in forest areas, make sounds by talking or knocking on trees to give early warnings and avoid sudden encounters with tigers.
4. Avoid crouching for a long time in forest areas. When engaged in activities such as bending down to pick vegetables, wear a fake mask on the back of your head, as tigers rarely attack humans from the front.
5. Try to avoid free-ranging livestock. In the evening, bring livestock back from the mountains and forests. There are cases abroad where drawing eyes or other patterns on the hindquarters of cows can prevent wildlife attacks on livestock.
6. It is best not to bring dogs into the mountains. In most cases, dogs not only fail to provide protection but can also easily attract tiger attacks.
7. If you find cubs, injured tigers, or prey being hunted by tigers, do not approach them. Instead, move away immediately and report to local authorities.
When dealing with human-tiger conflicts, the article advises:
1. In any situation, remain calm, do not panic, do not turn your back on the tiger, and do not run quickly, as these behaviors can stimulate the tiger’s desire to attack.
2. If you encounter a tiger face-to-face but it does not attack directly but instead stares at you or roars (as a warning or demonstration), do not turn and run. Face the tiger, slowly retreat, and quickly leave after it is out of sight.
3. If the tiger tries to approach and attack you, if conditions permit, you can take refuge in houses, cars, or trees (to a height that the tiger cannot reach) to avoid harm. While ensuring your own safety, you can drive it away by starting a fire, speaking loudly, making noise by knocking on metal, or using signal flares (fire-breathing tubes) or fireworks.
4. If an attack is unavoidable and the tiger does not kill you immediately, it is recommended to lie down and not resist vigorously (futile resistance can provoke it, which is counterproductive).
5. If the tiger continues to attack after knocking you down, prioritize protecting your neck and use any available tools to fight back.
6. After a conflict with a tiger, report to relevant departments immediately.