Residents of Russia’s Far East are pleading for government intervention as Siberian (Amur) tigers increasingly encroach on human settlements, attacking domestic animals and raising fears of human casualties, Siberia Realities has reported.

Amid growing concerns, villagers have even called for soldiers currently deployed in Ukraine to be reassigned to tackle the crisis, the US government-funded outlet reported.

The problem has escalated since mid-2024, with reports of tigers venturing into residential areas in Primorsky Krai, particularly in the villages of Primorsky, Filippovka and Andreyevka. Initially, attacks were sporadic, but by late 2024, the situation deteriorated. In December alone, multiple dogs were killed in separate locations on the same night. By early 2025, tiger sightings had become almost a daily occurrence, prompting fearful residents to stay indoors after dark.

Wildlife experts cited by Siberia Realities attribute the rising human-tiger conflict to habitat destruction and food scarcity. The Amur tiger’s natural prey—wild boars and deer—has been drastically reduced due to poaching, deforestation and an outbreak of African swine fever in 2019, which wiped out an estimated 75% of the wild boar population. Decades of illegal logging, particularly in the Sikhote-Alin mountain range, where these tigers primarily live, have devastated forests and disrupted the local ecosystem.

While officials maintain that the tiger population remains stable, conservationists argue that dwindling prey is forcing tigers to seek food in human settlements.

Some villagers believe conservation efforts have led to an actual increase in tiger numbers, resulting in heightened competition for resources. Authorities have been relocating “problem tigers” to more remote areas, but residents argue this is ineffective, as new tigers continue to appear.

As fear spreads, many residents have begun arming themselves. Those with gun permits say they are ready to shoot if necessary, while others claim they will fire regardless of legal repercussions if they feel their lives are at risk.

“Those with gun permits are ready to shoot if there’s no other choice,” said one resident. “These are remote places, and people want to protect themselves.”

Growing frustration has led to a series of petitions directed at regional authorities and the Kremlin. In January, villagers in Krasnyi Yar recorded video messages appealing directly to President Vladimir Putin, demanding immediate intervention. One such appeal came from a soldier deployed in Ukraine, who claimed his home village had been suffering tiger attacks for months but had been ignored by officials. Shortly after his video gained attention, his wife appeared in another video, seemingly retracting his claims and blaming villagers for failing to protect their pets. Some believe she was pressured into making the statement.

Local officials insist their handling of the crisis is sufficient. In one case, a tiger captured near Barabash was deemed healthy and relocated, but residents remain unconvinced.

The Russian government has pledged to expand its hunting inspection service in 2025, hiring 49 additional officers to bring the total number of inspectors in the region to 100. However, conservationists warn this will not be enough without major systemic changes, including stricter regulations on logging, better enforcement against poaching and increased funding for tiger monitoring.

Currently, Russia’s annual budget for tracking tiger movements, deterring conflicts and supporting conservation efforts stands at just RUB9mn (€94,000). One expert quoted by Siberia Realities argues that this figure is at least ten times lower than what is needed to properly manage the crisis. Meanwhile, the continued export of Siberian pine nuts—another key food source for the tiger’s prey—further exacerbates the problem by reducing resources for wild animals, increasing the likelihood of human-tiger conflicts.