Increasing the capacity for conservation disease monitoring in the Russian
Far East in particular reference to the Amur tiger and leopard
Project Description:
A recent paper described the occurrence of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in wild Amur tigers.
Although clinical distemper has not yet been diagnosed in Amur leopards, 20% of wild individuals
have shown evidence of exposure to the virus responsible which is almost certainly introduced by
feral domestic dogs. Distemper has the potential to decimate both tiger and leopard populations,
and we believe that it is rapidly becoming a problem in many tiger range states. It is imperative that
all conservation biologists, wildlife vets, and domestic animal vets work together to control this
disease before it has a significant impact on the most endangered Russian big cats. It is also essential
that surveillance and control mechanisms for CDV are established before any reintroduction
programme for the Amur leopard goes ahead.
To this end, WVI vet John Lewis has been invited by WCS Russia and the Institute of Biology & Soil
(part of the Russian Academy of Sciences) to work with three young Russian wildlife vets and Martin
Gilbert from Glasgow University, UK, in deciding the way forward in the battle against CDV. (Working
with Dr Sarah Cleaveland at Glasgow, Martin has begun a PhD investigating the epidemiology of CDV
in the Russian Far East). John has been working in the Russian Far East since 2004 and wrote the
Disease Management Programme published in the Programme for Reintroduction of the Far Eastern
Leopard 2010. Specific tasks include deciding wildlife sampling priorities and techniques, and a
strategy to control CDV in domestic dogs during the coming years.
During his time in Russia John also aims to train more Russian vets and tiger biologists in gas
anaesthesia when handling tigers for radio-collaring, and to clinically examine any tigers caught
during this period as part of the ongoing health survey.
Project Outcomes:
The overall achievement will be to decide wildlife sampling priorities and techniques and a strategy
to control CDV in domestic dogs during the coming years. Detailed benefits from the project are as
follows:
1) Agreed protocols on how to collect samples and conduct research with regards to wildlife
diseases with an emphasis on distemper.
2) Further training of Russian wildlife vets thereby increasing the capacity of Russia to take on
their own wildlife medicine. To date, very very few Russian veterinarians have any
experience or knowledge of wildlife medicine as it is not taught at university. The training of
these three vets is a new and exciting step forward.
3) Networking of new wildlife vets with academics (Russian and international) and
conservation personnel. Including any new Russian vet or biologist in the already well
established network of people working in Amur leopard and tiger conservation is paramount
to the sustained conservation of these cats.
4) Training of WCS Russia tiger biologists in safe gas anaesthesia which will enable tigers to be
radio collared with reduced risk. The benefits of radiocollaring studies are self evident. Of
particular interest is to document the frequency of potential interactions with domestic
dogs.
5) John will visit the facilities at Ussurisk on behalf of the Amur Leopard EEP to facilitate the
progression of the reintroduction. This will be followed up by a visit from EEP studbook
holder, Jo Cook, later in the year.
6) Subsidiary meetings that John Lewis will have whilst in the Russian Far East will enable WVI
to continue to be at the heart of Amur leopard and tiger conservation and enable funds
raised through WVI to be used to the greatest effect. John regularly gives talks to local
schools, universities and NGOs whilst there, increasing the general awareness of the threats
of disease to wildlife.