Russia Wildlife Amur Tiger Bimetallic 10 Roubles 1992 BU

The Amur Tiger (also known as the Siberian Tiger) is the largest and most powerful subspecies of felines. The Amur Tiger is almost totally confined to a very restricted part of eastern Russia where they are now being actively protected. About ten percent of Amur Tiger population resides in China. One of the planets most endangered species, the total population is believed to be less than 800 animals in the wild. The Amur Tiger can weigh as much as 650 pounds. Apart from the size, Amur Tigers are differentiated from other tigers by their whiter fur and dark brown, rather than black stripes. Skilled hunters, they prey primarily on deer, wild boar, and goral, a goat-like animal, but will also take smaller prey like rabbits or salmon. They have sometimes even been known to kill and eat small Asiatic Black Bears. Since it is estimated that eighty-five percent of an Amur Tiger’s diet is composed of Red Deer and Wild Boar, protecting these and other prey animals from illegal hunting may be just as important to the tiger’s survival as preventing direct killing of the big cats.