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Amur Tigers Driven Out of Forests by Swine Fever, Sparking Deadly Attacks
10 Nov
Summary
- African swine fever decimates wild boar, a key food source for Amur tigers
- Unprecedented number of tigers leaving forests, leading to spike in attacks on people
- At least 17 Amur tigers killed and 27 captured in the past year due to the crisis
As of November 10th, 2025, the spread of African swine fever among wild boar populations in Russia's far east has led to the deadliest winter for Amur tiger attacks on people in decades. The once-elusive Amur tiger, the world's largest big cat, has been forced out of the forests in search of food, sparking fear and conflict with local communities.
The disease has killed vast numbers of wild boar, a primary food source for the tigers, particularly for females with cubs. This "ecological disaster" has driven the Amur tigers to leave their natural habitats in unprecedented numbers, leading to a 1,000% increase in human-tiger conflict incidents in some regions. Between October 2024 and September 2025, at least 17 Amur tigers have been killed and 27 captured, with many found emaciated, dehydrated, or suffering from injuries.
