Tiger response teams
In 1999 Russia became the first country to establish a government sponsored Tiger Response Team (TRT) tasked specifically with responding to human-tiger conflicts (Miquelle et al, 2005). Other range states have followed suit, although the team structure varies from country to country. In some places the they will be a collaborative effort, with NGOs and state wildlife authorities both supplying staff and working together. In other situations, they may be strictly one or the other. Some teams make use of community volunteers, which not only increases numbers but boosts community support, and yet other teams may go further and be community led. Whatever the make-up of the TRT it is important they are supported by wider authorities. Conflict often attracts significant public attention, and mobs may be quick to form (particularly in densely populated areas). Support from local law enforcement agencies may be required, to manage crowds and allow any response team to do their work.
In their analysis of conflict in the Russian Far East between 2000 and 2009, the Goodrich et. al. (2011a) concluded that by removing injured, diseased or unfit tigers from the wild, combined with conducting anti-poaching activities, the TRT had significantly reduced HTC and improved local tolerance of tigers.
