An open-air pageantry came next, and a concert of the city's top performers. Public Creativity Sites were seething with activity. There were contests dedicated to the Amur tiger and other gems of Far Eastern wildlife.
Many environmental organizations had joined hands to arrange the festival. They hope Tiger Day will bring new blood to the Green cause, with an emphasis on youth participation, and attract public attention to animals' plight as the Amur tiger has become an extinguishing species.
The tiger is live symbol of the Russian Far East, with its flora and fauna of exceptional wealth and grandeur. The idea of Tiger Day belongs to Vladimir Troinin, prominent local prose writer and hunting expert by profession.
Vladivostok has been holding annual Tiger Days since 2000. The geography and participation of those celebrations are steadily increasing. Thus, the EAZA, European Association of Zoos and Aquariums, joined the campaign last year. This year's Tiger Day involves more than thirty zoos in all parts of the world. Prominence here belongs to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novosibirsk, London and New Delhi.
Tigers are the world's largest cats. Regrettably, a mere five to seven thousand are surviving for today. Amur tigers are the scantiest of all-a mere 450 or so. 95 per cent of the total wild population are to be found in the Russian Far East.
