SPORTS
Amur Tiger selected as mascot for International Sambo Federation
Baku, May 7, AZERTAC
The Amur tiger, an endangered species mostly inhabiting Russia’s Far East, was selected as the mascot of the International Sambo Federation (FIAS), according to TASS.
President of the federation Vasily Shestakov said that the relevant agreement was signed between the Executive Committee of FIAS and the Amur Tiger Center with the aim of popularization of the sport of Sambo and preservation as well as multiplication of the unique species of tigers.
"On the one hand, the agreement we signed will help us develop and popularize Sambo, and on the other hand, it will allow us to draw public attention to the need to preserve and increase the Amur tiger population," Shestakov said.
According to last year’s expert estimates, the population of the Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) in Russia’s Far Eastern Khabarovsk and Primorsky territories did not exceed 450 to 500 animals and about 40 tigers usually fall victim to poachers every year.