Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, uncontrolled poaching in Russia’s Far East plunged Siberian tigers near to extinction. So, in the early 1990s wildlife expert, Commander Vladimir Shetinin (centre) established an anti-poaching force, code-named Operation Amba (later renamed Inspection Tiger), with hand-picked and trained Special Forces to tackle the problem head-on. Often only armed with replica weapons, limited funds and at extreme risk to their lives and families they took the fight to the poachers – and won!

The following is a small selection of the photography, taken over nearly two months that TEPA spent patrolling with Operation Amba’s Special Forces.

The Amur or Siberian tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is certainly one of the world’s rarest ‘big’ cats but there is no current, scientifically accurate figure for its population status. The last range-wide survey was completed in 2015 giving an estimate of 540 tigers. However, reliable sources regard this as probably inaccurate. It is hoped that a more reliable survey will be completed before 2022 when Russia will again host the International Tiger Summit, this time in Vladivostok. Until recently the Amur tiger was also considered to be the largest tiger sub-species. Recent research suggests that this is likely to be an exaggeration and that, typically, Amur tigers are about the same size as Bengal tigers. Since 1992 the largest male tiger ever captured for scientific research under the Siberian Tiger Project weighed in at 206kg.

… they roam far to the east of Siberia in Primorski Krai, one of Russia’s far eastern provinces, more than 6,500 km (4,000 miles) east of Moscow, on the edge of the Sea of Japan. Recent research has revealed that some males patrol territories up to 1,000 km2 (390 mile2) in order to find enough food to survive the icy winter months, indicating that comparatively minor habitat loss can have serious survival implications.

The Regional Environmental Committee chairman, for the Novopokrovka region  (L) and Operation Amba Commander Vladimir Shetinin examine a haul of illegal firearms and other poacher's weapons seized by patrols.

Biologist Galina Salkina found this skull and complete skeleton of a 5-6 year old Amur tiger in a trap and snare whilst working in the Lazovsky Reserve. A full set like this might be worth as much as US$10,000 (UK£6,500) in China for use in medicines etc.

Operation Amba Chief Inspector Dukov (L) and Commander Vladimir Shetinin hold a large tiger skin seized from poachers.

During a routine Operation Amba anti-poaching patrol Chief Inspector Vladimir Dukov, holds a syringe he has just seized whilst questioning a haggard, grey-faced drug addict.

To the indigenous Udege people of Russia’s Far East, the Siberian tiger - which they call Amba, meaning Great Sovereign - is sacred. Working with Commander Shetinin a druzhina anti-poaching patrol of Udege speed up the Bikin River from the village of Krasni Yar in an outboard powered skiff, called an "omorochka".