Situated in Huichun city in Jilin Province near the border with Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Huichun Natural Reserve covers 88,913 hectares, of which 49,581 hectares make up a central protection zone and with the remainder being a buffer zone and an experimental area.

In addition, a 53,565-hectare peripheral protection belt has been constructed.

Jia Jiansheng, an official with the State Forest Bureau of China, said that establishment of a provincial natural reserve in Huichun, a haunt of northeast tigers, is the most effective way to protect wild tigers and leopards from extinction.

Over hunting and constant invasion of their limited habitats have caused a drastic drop in the number of wild tigers and leopards, Jia said.

To protect the biodiversity of these northeast tigers and far-east leopards, local forest official Zhang Lufeng said that the province plans to begin a series of biological engineering projects including the construction of reproduction centers and medical aid centers in other regions.

The natural reserve will strengthen cooperation with Russia and the DPRK, and hopefully provide more convenience for the migration of wild tigers and leopards within the border areas.

Zhang said that construction of the reserve is a welcome step which fits in with the suggestion by international organizations for wild animal protection which was to set up a "biological protection aisle" within the Northeast Asian area.

Currently, the number of northeast tigers world-wide stands between 342 and 386, with most living in Russia.

An investigation made recently by the United Nations Development Program said that two to four northeast tigers and leopards have been found within the boundaries of Huichun city and now Huichun has become an area in China with largest number of tigers and leopards .

(People's Daily December 14, 2001)