Tigers Between Empires

by Jonathan C. Slaght, Unknown Author

The thrilling saga of the great Amur tiger and the scientists who came together, across the world, to save it.

The forests of Northeast Asia are home to a marvelous range of animals—fish owls and brown bears, musk deer and moose, wolves and raccoon dogs, and leopards and tigers. But in the final years of the Cold War, only a few hundred tigers stepped quietly through the snow of the Amur River basin. Soon, the Soviet Union fell and catastrophe arrived, as poaching and logging took a fast, astonishing toll on an already vulnerable species.

Just as these changes arrived, scientists came together to found the Siberian Tiger Project. Led by the moose researcher Dale Miquelle and Zhenya Smirnov, who studied rodents, the team captured and released more than 114 tigers over three decades, witnessed their mating rituals and fights, their hunting and feeding, their ceding and taking of territory, their creation of families.

Within the pages of Jonathan C. Slaght’s Tigers Between Empires, these characters, both feline and human, come fully alive as we travel with them through the quiet and changing forests of Amur. We travel across time, too, as the species is shaped by the history and politics of empires—like the Qing dynasty’s Willow Palisade that once slowed human settlement, or the later introduction of roads through Russian reserves. The Siberian Tiger Project became the longest running tiger research initiative anywhere in the world; its work continues to guide conservationists today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Animals, Nature, Science, History, Russia, China

Hardcover

First published November 4, 2025

About the author

Jonathan C. Slaght, PhD, is the Regional Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Temperate Asia Program, where he oversees WCS programs in China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan, and projects in Russia and Central Asia.

His memoir, "Owls of the Eastern Ice," was longlisted for a 2020 National Book Award for Nonfiction, and won the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award in 2021.

Slaght's "Tigers Between Empires" is slated for release from FSG on 04 November, 2025.

His other writings have been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Guardian, and Audubon Magazine, among others.

Reviews

[Olive Fellows (abookolive) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tigers between Empires tells the soup-to-nuts history of the Siberian tiger project, a research project that aimed to answer questions about the surviving Amur tiger population in the Russian Far East. It involved tracking, tagging, monitoring, and in a few cases, raising and releasing tigers - tasks that are easy to list, but much, much more difficult to physically carry out when you're talking about a huge apex predator.

Click here to hear more of my thoughts on this book (and one other book on tigers) over on my Booktube channel, abookolive!

[Kelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOAH, one of my favorites from this entire year for sure! This book was amazing, I can't believe I have never heard of this author before now! I can't wait to read his other works. I nearly hesitated while requesting the advanced copy of this book, because I was worried I would find it a bit too historical and dry (I don't often like reading pure history). However, it was anything but that!!! While the author does go over, in intricate detail, the history of tiger conservation efforts in northeastern Asia from the 1990s until today, it reads like part memoir, part wilderness adventure story.

If you like to read about people spending time outdoors or living in remote places (I am recently especially fond of What Walks This Way: Discovering the Wildlife Around Us Through Their Tracks and Signs, and Anima: A Wild Pastoral), then this would absolutely be the book for you. Animal lovers and fans of Barry Lopez (especially his animal writing in Arctic Dreams) will adore this as well, since the author takes you up close and personal with exactly how a tiger (and their prey) lives in the wild. We follow the young biologists through the forest while they note tiger signs and eventually begin to capture and track them- an intimate perspective that very very few people are ever lucky enough to experience.

Reading this was also very much like reading a memoir (even though I know it is not one), because the author really makes efforts to include specific details of the events and people involved to make you feel as if you are right there with them. In the end notes I found out this is likely because he WAS right there with them, at least for many later parts of this book, as he himself is a wildlife scientist who studied the endangered Blakiston's fish owl in the same region where the Siberian Tiger Project was doing its work (yes, I already added his book about this work to my tbr haha), and is friends with quite a few of the people he writes about. He is therefore able to paint such a wonderful and intimate picture of the Primorye region and its nature, along with the people involved in tiger conservation there.

I learned so much more than I expected about tigers and how they live (and die) in the wild. It is such a gift to feel like you have been right there walking with these huge, beautiful animals in their forest while reading this from your city house thousands of miles away. Wonderful history, wonderful animals, wonderful writing style, really a breath of fresh air- I can only very happily recommend this one!

[Anna (1001BooksClub) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for anyone who loves travel writing, wildlife, and remote landscapes. Tigers Between Empires beautifully blends scientific insight with personal adventure, offering a rare glimpse into the world of the endangered Amur tiger. Before reading this book, I knew very little about these elusive creatures - and even less about the tireless efforts scientists undertake to protect them. Slaght’s storytelling is both informative and deeply immersive, making this an eye-opening journey through one of the wildest corners of the world.

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 big stars for the big cats!

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A really incredible account of the Siberian Tiger Project. I love reading nonfiction books that do a deep dive into one species, and this book did a phenomenal job of that while still being accessible to the layperson. This book did not just successfully convey the biology, behavior, strength, and majesty of the Amur (Siberian) Tiger—it also conveys the feeling of confusion that comes from living in a country in turmoil after the fall of the Soviet Union. It captures the political climate of that time incredibly well. One of my favorite nonfiction books I've read in a while.

[Marl · Rating 5 out of 5]

[4.5 stars rounded up]

A wonderful rundown of the Siberian Tiger project - the joint Russian and US conservation project focusing on the dwindling Amur (Siberian) tigers - Tigers Between Empires takes its readers to the Russian Far East to follow those scientists who helped in the conservation of the largest big cats in the world.

This book does such a great job at alternating between the more hard facts (population data, local history and geography, and changes in legal protection over time) and the on the ground events of the Project (snaring and collaring tigers, tracking them, rehabilitation of orphaned cubs). The book primarily follows Dale Miquelle - the US lead of the project - who acts as a protagonist as we move throughout the Project's foundation, slow start, and entire lifetime. If the book starts slow, it’s because the Project started slow! After the first while, we move from documenting every single trip out to moving at a faster pace over the years (though still taking the time to document individual expeditions and encounters at times).

At first I was apprehensive about the amount of historical and geographic information being thrown at me from the start - I’ve had a streak of nonfiction books that I felt went too broad for their own good lately - but it worked so well in the end for this book. The tigers are just one part of the Amur River basin and Primorye as a whole. The time the author spends on the landscape and greater ecology of the region itself (without taking away from the main focus of the Project and its tigers at all) just further emphasizes the importance of the conservation work done here. It also is so obvious how much the author loves this region and the wildlife in it.

Another aspect that really stood out to me was the care the author (and seemingly those involved with the Project themselves) had towards the locals. Though every death of a tiger due to poaching is tragic and gets the admonishment that it deserves, the horrible state of the economy and lack of any support from the new Russian government following the collapse of the USSR are blamed even more so than the random civilian who may have needed the money to keep his family alive that winter. We follow the expanding legal protections of the tigers and the increasing penalties towards poaching as the times change and people are able to better support themselves. Of course, the book never says that it’s fine for people to poach endangered animals and get off scot-free (good!) but it acknowledges the context of the times and refuses to demonize the people suffering during and after the regime change. I just always find it refreshing when an author takes in the whole picture, rather than just a knee-jerk reaction on who to blame.

Anyways, this was such a great look into both a specific conservation effort with all of its ups and downs as well as wildlife fieldwork on a broader scale. The people involved are distinct without ever feeling like characterized versions of real people, the wonder, terror, and heartbreak of these cats is felt in every encounter, and there is so much interesting information without the narrative ever getting too stuck in the hard numbers. It’s just a really fine book.

Thank you to the publisher for the advanced copy of the ebook via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!

[Dev (lit.lark) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio for an ALC of this one!

I've been trying to read more non-fiction recently and this one caught my attention because like most people, I had a period of childhood where I was "obsessed" with tigers. I really enjoyed this one, and was pleasantly surprised by how it was written. I was a little afraid it would be too dry with history and I would zone out (just by it's nature and my personal preferences) but it was not at all dry!

While there are definitely a lot of facts and tons of information dropped on us in this book, it's written in a way that does not make you feel like you're just being info dumped. It almost reads like a memoir as we follow detailed accounts of the scientists that worked on this project and I think that brings a really great layer to this book that helps the reader (or at least, me) absorb the information. I definitely learned that I knew next to nothing about how these types of animal conservation projects work, that's for sure. There is a lot more that goes into them, and the scientists that dedicate their lives to these efforts have all my applause.

I'm always hesitant when an author narrates their own book because sometimes it just doesn't work but it really did work here. You can hear the passion in his voice for this subject, and he emotes really well that brings some heart to this story that could otherwise feel bland since there IS so much information being given to us. His familiarity with the subject (conservation in general, the people, and the geographical area) comes across pretty clearly, in my opinion, because there's an ease in the way he speaks throughout this audiobook.

Overall, I learned a lot in this one and really enjoyed the connection we had to some of the specific tigers AND scientists. Some parts did make me very sad (animal poaching obviously sucks and this is a reminder of how AWFUL humans are...) and I'll definitely be looking for similar reads to add to my tbr - both about tigers and other animal conservation topics in general!

[Andrew Ney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book chronicles the life of the Siberian Tiger Project, a joint conservation project between Russian and American biologists. The books starts a little slow, as background information on political landscape and topographical descriptions of the far east Russian setting. Methods of tracking and capturing are broken down, and we await a catch. Once a tiger is collared, the projec, and book, take off. Moments where humans encounter tigers are written with such tension, their aura felt through the pages. To able to take that in in person must be a life changing experience. As the book goes on, you get to learn about these tigers, and all their unique personality traits. One long lived tigress by the name of Olga particularly captured mine and the Russian hearts, helping to push forward tiger conservation throughout the Russian far east. Seeing these creatures as neighbors rather than dangers was crucial to the project. Slaight, and the biologists, do a fantastic job with framing the tigers as creatures to be saved and admired, not persecuted and murdered. This was truly one of the most fascinating books i have ever read

[Ula Tardigrade · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Jonathan C. Slaght’s debut about his fieldwork in the Amur region, Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl. His amazement with the natural world and wild creatures is truly contagious. This enthusiasm is also present in his new book. However, I found it to be slightly less engaging overall.

It chronicles the Siberian Tiger Project and tells the stories of all the scientists involved in this impressive program. I loved the parts that described in detail the daily realities they faced. However, because of the book's scope, some parts were dry, and I sometimes got lost among all the characters.

Still, if you are interested in this region and want to know more about Amur tigers, I highly recommend this book.

Thanks to the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

[Andy Weston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slaght’s earlier book, Owls of the Eastern Ice: A Quest to Find and Save the World's Largest Owl, was one of books of the year two years ago, and if anything, this is even better.
The focus of both books is on conservation, and Slaght’s writing itself is doing wonderful things for the cause. As in the best fiction, his characters have depth and the reader cares about them, and there is a plot which is addictive and a page-turner.

The location of both books is similar, the isolated town of Terney, neighbouring the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve in the Primorye province of southeast Russia, close to its border with China, across which the tigers cross, unsurprisingly unchallenged. The author is the Regional Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society's Temperate Asia Program, where he oversees WCS programs in China, Mongolia, and Afghanistan, and projects in Russia and Central Asia.

The elusive Siberian, or more correctly called Amur, tigers fight for their survival. Poachers are the most direct of threats, the logging industry is eroding their territory, and many political twists of the day determine their fate too. The book is in three parts, roughly dealing with each decade from the 1990s to the present. It concerns a handful of scientists, in particular, Dale Miquelle, a fearless and altruistic conservationist, who is described splendidly by Slaght.

There is tension throughout, from the process involved with tracking a tiger, to darting it to enable a health check and the placement of a GPS collar around its neck to track its moves. During the 30 year time period advances in technology make the tracking more accurate. Those in this line of work must also work with haste in a harsh, icy cold climate, with danger from bears as well as the tigers themselves.

Despite not being able to be in Russia for six years Slaght has managed to highlight the plight of Blakiston fish owls, and Amur tigers through his writing. Arguably, by raising awareness of the whole process of conservation through such excellent books is doing even more than he was when in situ previously.

Here’s a couple of clips..

The path toward a future with Amur tigers across northeast Asia is clear. What remains uncertain is if we, as a global society, are able to see it through. Wildlife populations can be restored if we have the will to do so. This has been demonstrated with wolves in North America, brown bears in the Alps, and Eurasian lynx across Europe. In order to succeed, tiger conservation requires government agencies and national governments to be open, mutually respectful, and cooperative among themselves and across borders.
Amur tigers move freely across the Sino-Russian frontier; governments, NGOs, and civil society should follow suit, taking their lead from the tigers.

and

The zapovednik system of nature reserves dates to 1916, before the Russian Revolution, when the Barguzin Nature Reserve was established near Lake Baikal in central Russia. Kedrovaya Pad-the smallest of Primorye's four nature reserves, at 179 square kilometers-was established that same year.
Unlike national parks, which came late to Russia in the 1980s and encouraged use and enjoyment by the public, zapovedniks were the first protected areas anywhere in the world designated specifically for nature preservation and scientific study. The point of these reserves was to understand what nature looked like and how it functioned in the absence of human influences. No one was allowed to just visit them: rangers provided protection, and staff scientists came to study and monitor the natural ecosystems.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an advance copy of this book that looks at efforts by an international cast of scientists, environmentalists, hunters, and average citizens to create and return from near extinction the Siberian tiger, accomplished against immense hardships, government disinterest and incredible odds.

The fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union was an exciting time that seemed fraught with possibilities. Some called it the end of history. Some thought it would be a time of peace and global growth with America leading the way. As with most momentous events, no once could see what the future held, and most of this was wrong. Really wrong. And yet for a short period of time, there was a strong sense that anything was possible. Even the saving of tigers brought almost to the edge of extinction. A plan that seemed to lack interest from donors, governments, even experts in the field. Yet one that has provided incredible returns, and research that is still changing the way people look at these animals. Instead of the end of history, these devoted people stopped the end of the Amur Tigers, also known as the Siberian Tigers. Tigers Between Empires: The Improbable Return of Great Cats to the Forests of Russia and China by Jonathan C. Slaght is a story of the men and women who despite the odds, the poor conditions, the lack of information or infrastructure, did something that few thought possible, results that can be still seen and learned from today.

The Amur River basin is about 1.85 million square kilometers and touches on both the Chinese and Russian borders. The area has been the home of the Amur tigers, or Siberian tigers, and were prized by hunters for numerous reasons, food, folk medicine and more. So much so that in 1940 one man began to wonder about how many tigers might be left, a hunter who had come to appreciate the tigers for what they were. As this was Russia in 1940, tigers were no high on the list of things the Stalin regime was big on. Something that carried over as tensions rose with China, the United States and into the collapse of the whole Soviet Union. During the rebuilding of Russia a plan was begun, between Russian and American scientists, environmentalists and others to see if anything could be done for the Amur Tigers. Financing was tight, the conditions primitive, prop planes, decrepit shelters, Russian winters. However slowly things fell into place. Tigers were trapped, examined, tagged and set free. Territories were mapped. Protections but in place, and the population began to rise. Though not without a lot of hardships, loss and other problems.

Jonathan Slaght is one of those writers who can craft a sentence full of scientific jargon, paint a scene of environmental beauty, and make everything sound and feel like poetry. Slaght captures the people involved, the little bits that make them real, all while telling a story that is not only interesting but important. We can do things, little things with a great hardships and make big changes in the world. Slaght puts the reader deep in Russia, in -40 degree weather with only two fires to keep a person alive. The language slights that bind people together to help the tigers. Little things that tell a great story. The narrative starts moving quickly, setting the scene, the problems, and even the many doubts that people had, and never bogs down. A wonderful story, full of many beautiful and well-written moments.

Fans of Slaght's previous book on owls, one that I also enjoyed, will love this. Slaght has a real gift in capturing nature in its beauty, and the men and women who live to help nature. A book for animal lovers, and for people who like to read exciting and interesting stories. I eagerly await what Slaght has planned next.

[Mari · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! I was excitedly looking forward to learn more tigers, but Jonathan Slaght’s “Tigers Between Empires” offered so much more. This book is an extraordinary fusion of science, history and storytelling. It is rare to find a work that so effortlessly weaves together geography, adventure, natural history and personal reflection into a seamless narrative tapestry.

Set in the Primorye region of the Russian Far East—where Russia brushes against China, North Korea and the Sea of Japan—Slaght’s book vividly renders one of the world’s most ecologically and politically complex landscapes. Through his accounts, this remote, rugged corner of the globe becomes a living character which is not only the backdrop but an integral part of the quest to study and protect the Amur tiger.

The book reads at times like a detective story, following scientists in their search for the first trace of a tiger, where each paw print becomes a clue in a high-stakes mystery. Yet unlike fiction, the peril and purpose here are very real. Slaght writes with both scientific precision and narrative grace, turning the harsh logistics of field research—mechanical breakdowns, biting cold, and cultural confusion—into tales of perseverance and quiet discovery.

One of the book’s great strengths is the way it intertwines multiple dimensions of place and purpose. The reader gains not only insights into the biology of the Amur tiger and the ecology of Primorye, but also a nuanced understanding of the region’s history—how shifting borders and empires have shaped the human and natural worlds alike for better or worse. The collaboration between Slaght and his Russian colleagues, despite language and cultural contrasts at the start of the project in the 1990s, is portrayed with warmth and mutual respect; a shared scientific mission bridges these divides at least until a couple of decades and regime changes later nationalist ideas begin to overshadow joint international collaboration for the greater goal of nature conservation.
Equally compelling is Slaght’s willingness to consider deeper philosophical questions about conservation itself. Should nature be left entirely alone or should humans seek to understand and intervene strategically for its survival? His balanced consideration of both schools of thought reveals his maturity as a thinker and his empathy as a field scientist.

Above all, this book is beautifully written. Its prose flows with quiet authority, offering just enough context to enrich the story without overwhelming it. Slaght’s evocation of the place is so vivid that it makes one yearn to travel east—to explore a land that feels both hauntingly distant and profoundly alive. Even for those who may never set foot in Primorye, “Tigers Between Empires” opens a window into a hidden world where science, adventure and the human spirit converge; for me it was an excellent springboard to seek out more information about the animals, people and landscapes described.

Audiobook
What makes “Tigers Between Empires” so memorable is how personal it feels. Slaght’s own experiences working in the very landscapes he describes give the book authenticity and emotional depth. Through his eyes, the reader meets the remarkable Russian scientists and forest guardians whose dedication defines this work. The result is a story that feels both intimate and epic—a biography of place, people and wild creatures entwined. The fact that the author himself narrates the audiobook amplifies this effect even more and makes it incredibly immersive and moving. I have already lined up Slaght's book about the Blackistone's Fish Owl as my next read.

[Kris the retired librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the founding of the Siberian Tiger Project after the collapse of the Soviet Union and its efforts to save the big cats who roam the Amur River Basin. Led by Dale Miquelle and Zhenya Smirnov, the group spent over 30 years working to protect and save the elusive tigers and their habitat. They captured, collared, and released over 114 tigers, observing and studying their movements, how they hunt, mating rituals, and how mother tigers raise their cubs. Swipe for the full summary.

This is an amazing story of the dedication and perseverance of the researchers, scientists, and veterinarians who worked for the project. They battled bureaucracy, harsh weather, brutal terrain, and poachers in an effort to save the species from the brink of extinction. This is riveting story pulled me right in and didn’t let go. Slaght, who also narrates the audiobook, crafts a fascinating story. He writes with a deep caring for the people and the animals. I became really invested in the lives of Dale and his coworkers and especially the lives of the tigers. I learned a lot of the tigers, their territory which lies along the border of Russia and China, and the hardships the dedicated professionals of the project dealt with. Although Siberian tigers, also known as Amur tigers, are apex predators, their lives and ecosystems are extremely fragile. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves animals, is interested in animal conservation, or who’s looking for a an absorbing and unforgettable story of success against all odds. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a Nonfiction November read. Thanks Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook!

[Nick Asreen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible read. From pre-creation of the Siberian tiger project in the mid 20th century detailing how pioneering Russian wildlife biologists would spend weeks on end tracking wild Amur tigers on foot in the snow. In the subzero temps of the Russian far east winter. Living off scraps of their kills at times. Metal. Amazing.

Then to the early 90s visiting the main study area and starting this project up to the present day with the Russia Ukraine war and how it has affected the project and wildlife conservation of the region. Moving on from winter only tracking in the snow to box traps baited with live animals, snares, radio collars, tracking individual tigers with dogs based on scat scent, satellite/GPS collars, and finally camera traps. The advancement and innovation in wildlife survey techniques in such a short period of time is insane and fascinating to think about. Wonder what the next few decades and longer will bring.

What the main biologists mentioned throughout this book did for Amur tiger and wildlife conservation in general is so awesome and can't be understated. Legends. RIP to Bart Schleyer, Zhenya Smirnov, and Howard Quigley. Shame that the project/the American collaboration essentially no longer has any influence due to government insistence on keeping it in house. Global wildlife conservation shouldn't be compromised by a difference in borders, but alas.

Favorite quote among many:

"The only person who makes no mistakes is the person who does nothing."
- Zhenya (p.122)

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love big cats, maps/geography, and I studied Russian in college so this was calling my name! I was worried there might be too many statistics for me to follow while listening, but thankfully it’s written in a way where the statistics are woven into an actual story you could follow.

This would be a great documentary! This nonfiction takes place in the 1990s and early 2000s, but it would great to see the animals on screen. The animals do come to life in this story, and I’m really glad I listened to it.

Not only do we learn about tigers and their subspecies, but we also learn about different species of bears and whales, studies done on all three of those animals, and how they all interact with other animals located in Russia and China.

My only issue is how it sounds with AirPods in! It sounded like there was an echo, so I listened to it through my phone speaker instead.

Overall, I learned a lot about tigers, wild animal conservation, and scientists! It was sad to hear about certain topics, tigers being shot, poaching, etc. but that was only a small part of this book.

Thank you @macmillan.audio for the copy!! Out 11/4!!

If you are interested in documentaries on big cats, I recommend Wildcat on Amazon Prime Video. I loved (and cried) so much! 🐅🦁🐆

[PlotTrysts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfic traces the 30-year history of conservation efforts in Russia of the "Siberian" tiger. (Yes, I learned that "Siberian" is a misnomer, since these tigers live in a different region in Russia.)

Based on the title, I was expecting more focus on the political negotiations between China and Russia in aligning their conservation efforts. Instead, the book focuses on the personalities of the founding members of the organization and their innovative approaches to tracking and studying tigers. Interestingly, some of the biggest names in the organization are Americans.

That said, there are plenty of internal politics to navitage, since the 30 years span the fall of the Soviet Union and several different government approaches to conservation, "foreign influence" (as I mentioned, many of the tiger biologists are American), and poaching.

I listened to the book, narrated by the author. I thought the narration was quite good! At the end, Slaght describes his personal relationship and interest in the organization. I wish this portion had made it into the main body of the book! Expect more of a straightforward "history" of the movement rather than a memoir-style narration.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the book.

[Tricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tigers between empires accounts the long running tiger conservation efforts between Russia and the U.S. starting in the 1990's and carrying through to the 2010's and beyond. It's a compelling read about some truly remarkable animals and the people who want to protect them from extinction. Jonathan C. Slaght does a remarkable job of capturing the harsh realities of this kind of work while still sharing the positivity and hope that are essential for keeping such programs alive and for continuing efforts to conserve our most endangered species. He describes, not only the tigers, but also the landscape and climate with vivid details that make the reader feel a part of things even if they've never visited anywhere close to this part of the world. He also takes us deep into the minds and hearts of the humans on the ground, giving us insights into their relationships, their thoughts and dreams, and their strengths and flaws. What results is a work of narrative fiction that informs and entertains in equal measure and leaves one with a greater appreciation for, and sense of responsibility to, our changing world, animals in general, and most of all, the tigers themselves. Highly recommend.

[JC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Combination of audio (Audible) and physical book (purchased hardcover at an awesome bookshop inside the Indianapolis airport). It took me about two years after the publication of Slaght's first book to read Owls of the Eastern Ice, and only about two weeks to prioritize reading Tigers Between Empires. The thrill and enjoyment I felt reading this one mirrored my experience with his first book, affirming that Slaght is a master of wildlife conservation writing, and I will read any future books he writes.

Listening to Slaght's narration in the early hours on a vacation trip, while the rest of my family was sleeping, I found myself throwing my arms in the air in surprise (multiple times) and looking around for someone else to share the amazing story I just heard. (The bear attack. "No...we have three tigers." Katya the Fearless. Lowering Bart from the helicopter to the ground. I could keep going!!)

Surely other people without a background in field work will find this story as fascinating as I did!?

[Shree G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tigers Between Empires was one of the most refreshing reads I've done this year. Jonathan C. Slaght makes a stupendous account of his (and many other scientists') hard work chronicling and tracking the movement and protection efforts of the Siberian Tigers and other species on the brink of extinction.

The writing is not too technical. On the contrary, it is fluid and engaging, just like Douglas Preston's, and the passion for the outdoors and love for Mother Earth is very evident. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to review this book as an ARC, and recommend it to everyone who loves the wild outdoors and animals.

PS: I don't know why I read it with David Attenborough's voice in mind, lol. It was just like watching one of his vivid and nourishing nature documentaries—absolutely relaxing and a treat to the soul.

[Dalton Valette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Jonathan C. Slaght’s Owls of the Eastern Ice in 2023 and was so excited to read Slaght’s follow-up, all about Amur tigers in Russia and China. Unlike Owls, Slaght himself is largely absent from the story, instead focusing on a group of American and Russian researchers and their conservation efforts from the 1990s into, basically, the 2010s. The timeframe here is crucial I feel in my overarching critique with this book—there’s just so much ground to cover. Whereas Owls covered roughly five years, we have well over 30 years here. The pacing then becomes somewhat disjoined at times. With that gripe out of the way, I found Tigers Between Empires to be a worthwhile read that manages to bring in so much detail within its ~420 readable pages. The stories recounted here are often exhilarating, maddening, and hopeful.

[Laura Heasley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is phenomenal… as you read about the lives of the people who risk so much to study the tigers you feel like you are actually there with them. It’s written in such an engaging way that you find yourself accidentally learning about many other topics crucial to tiger conservation- such as politics and the nature of events which cause people to poach animals from the forest. The reader becomes much more aware of the bigger picture of tiger conservation, which builds a better understanding and fuels the thirst for knowledge. While this is a book about a conservation project, it’s not written in a sciency way- there is no assumed knowledge and it reads more like a story- yet there is learning in every sentence.
I’ve never been sad to finish a book before, and I just wish I could read another 400 pages to find out how the project evolved.

[Cheryl R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The frontier of the Russian Far East is a mysterious place inhabited by the Amur Tiger and a fiercely independent people. This book shows how the fall of the Soviet Union and its economic collapse led to a dramatic decline in the Tiger population. However, hardy wildlife conservationists from around the world allied to provide economic support and technical expertise to form a team that trapped and radio collared the tigers. This effort served to both document the current extent of the tiger population and to illustrate the toll that poaching was taking on that population. If we are to save endangered species we have to provide economic incentives to the local people to make them invested in preserving those populations.

[Rob Sedgwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book covers around 30 years of the Siberian Tiger Project, which spans a time starting with the Soviet Union and ending in post-Ukraine invasion Putin's Russia. It's a near first-hand account of everything that happened on the project during those years, and everything you'll read about in these pages you'll probably not have read anywhere else.

Ultimately, it's a great book, about a handful of dedicated scientists overcoming political and cultural obstacles to create a viable population of tigers in this huge borderland between two empires. The numerous poaching incidents are depressing, but the situation at the end of the book is far better than at the start.

[Alexa | alexahasread]

💥 HAPPY PUB DAY!

I've always found big cats to be fascinating. I was a little worried that the writing in this book would be a little over my head, but it was super accessible. It's a captivating book that weaves the wonders of nature with the majestic allure of tigers. The narration (by the author) kept me engaged. Definitely recommend for those with a thirst for exploration.

🗣 Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to read and review this book via gifted audio! All opinions are honest and my own.

[KRM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of tiger conservation in the late 20th century. Written in a very narrative style with a lot of attention to the personal day to day lives of the people involved. At times the story dragged a little, but I'm glad I read it! I had no idea we knew so little about tiger's habits for so long, every time they discovered something I felt like cheering for them!

Thank you for NetGalley for the free copy, all opinons are my own.

[Lauren Kirton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was more moving than I expected it to be. I love animals, and I am a sucker for an animal story but this had me crying sad tears and happy tears at different points. The prose is a little clunky, which is why I gave 4 stars, but I wish I had listened to it slower in the first half because I came to enjoy it so much. I slowed it down to 1.25 speed for the end because I had settled in and didn’t want to rush it.

[Jared Hamby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from Slaght. Whereas Owls of the Eastern Ice was an exciting pageturner of an adventure story in remote Russia that just happened to be about owls and conservation, this book is a direct history of tiger conservation in Russia. Its really good and very informative but maybe not as accessible to those not interested in the subject matter.

[Pat Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully engaging history of the Siberian Tiger Project which was initiated in the US but was a Russian/US collaboration. It is also a fascinating insight into tiger ecology and behavior in Far East Russia one of the most remote parts of the globe. This is a must read for anyone interested in tigers.

[Carole Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tigers Between Empires by Jonathan C. Slaght is a gripping and inspiring account of the Amur tiger’s survival and the scientists who fought to save it. Blending wildlife observation with political and historical context, Slaght brings both the tigers and the dedicated researchers vividly to life, showing how human ingenuity and perseverance can help nature reclaim its domain.

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm pretty enraptured by the subject matter ("The Tiger" by John Valliant is one of my ten favorite books of all-time), but damn if this isn't a ripper. Slaght is a gifted storyteller, able to tell both the human and animal tales from the Russian Far East. I loved being in the world he has recreated here.