“这是我离东北虎最近的一次了”……

今天是第13个“全球老虎日”。中国日报外籍记者内森（Nathan Williams），来到位于吉林和黑龙江省交界处的东北虎豹国家公园，开启了一段寻觅东北虎的旅程。

通过参与森林巡护，观测“天地空”一体化监测系统，与老虎“亲密接触”，内森深刻了解到中国在野生东北虎保护方面取得的成就以及面临的挑战。

Jiang Guangshun, a professor of wild animal resources at the Northeast Forestry University in Harbin, Heilong­jiang province, said his research team calculates that the area the tigers inhabited across the Sino-Russian border expanded by about 12 kilometers every three years from 2003 to 2016.

"As natural habitats are being restored in China, more Amur tigers are giving birth and raising cubs in the country, meaning that they are gradually expanding into China," Jiang said.

姜广顺表示，在20世纪80年代之前，至少有150只东北虎生活在中国东北的森林中。然而，该地区的经济发展使它们的数量下降到十几只。自1998年以来，中国开始在森林保护和社会发展之间寻求平衡，并启动了各种保护项目，东北虎的数量逐渐增加。

Jiang said that before the 1980s, at least 150 Amur tigers lived in the forests of Northeast China. However, economic development in the area saw their numbers fall to about 12.

In 1998, China began balancing economic development with forest protection, and started a number of conservation projects. As a result, the tiger population has grown.

在黑龙江省东宁市林业和草原局参观“天地空”一体化监测系统时，内森从局长王志刚处了解到，随着自然环境的恢复，野猪和鹿等猎物种群不断增加，越来越多东北虎从俄罗斯进入中国，寻求丰富的食物。东北虎的活动范围也将继续扩散。

Wang Zhigang, head of Dongning's forestry bureau said: "As the population of prey species including wild boar and deer rises, Amur tigers are venturing farther into China for food. Tiger fur has been seen in ditches along the borders. The expansion of the tigers' range is expected to continue."

为进一步了解东北虎的生活习性，以及人工饲养东北虎的生存现状，内森来到了位于哈尔滨的东北虎林园——世界上最大的人工饲养、繁育东北虎的基地。