In Primorye First Criminal Case Initiated on Illegal Logging in Tayozhnyi Wildlife Refuge

A criminal case was initiated against loggers running large scale operations in the Amur tiger “maternity home”.

WWF considers it a first result in a more than six-month confrontation between environmentalists and law enforcement agencies, and loggers who destroy key tiger habitats.

Under the veil of tending cutting logging companies systematically harvest in Tayozhnyi Wildlife Refuge valuable timber – oak, Korean pine, ash. New urn of large scale loggings was registered by WWF in March 2009.

For additional information please contact

Denis Smirnov, Leading Forest Projects Coordinator (WWF Russia Far - Eastern Branch),
tel/fax: +7 (4232) 41-48-68, e-mail
Elena Starostina, Press-officer (WWF Russia Far - Eastern Branch),
tel/fax: +7 (4232) 41-48-68, e-mail