Tigers Between Empires: The Improbable Return of Great Cats to the Forests of Russia and China

A narrative nonfiction exploration of the Amur tiger’s conservation saga, blending scientific discovery, adventure, and wildlife history.

Tigers Between Empires: The Improbable Return of Great Cats to the Forests of Russia and China tells the thrilling story of Amur tigers — often called Siberian tigers — and the dedicated scientists who worked across decades and continents to study and protect them. Set against the forests of northeastern Asia, the book chronicles how the species teetered on the brink of collapse after the Cold War, when poaching and habitat loss devastated populations. Through detailed reporting and vivid storytelling, Jonathan C. Slaght brings both the majestic cats and the committed researchers into sharp focus, showing how intense fieldwork and international cooperation helped reshape the tigers’ fate.

“A heart-in-your-mouth saga . . . riveting.” — Scientific American