The fresh pawprints of a male Siberian tiger, as wide as his outstretched hand, were visible all down the path. The men scanned the ridges and cautiously continued the patrol.

"I haven't seen a tiger on patrol yet, a real one," says Sheremetyev. "And I have to admit that I don't really want to, but you never know."

Thanks to increased surveillance, a stronger economy, and harsher laws against poaching and illegal trade in wildlife, Sheremetyev may yet see a tiger in the wild.

The big cats seem to be on the rebound in Russia, according to a new census. Between 480 and 540 of the subspecies—also known as Amur tigers—roam wild in Siberia and the Russian Far East, says the