Vladivostok continues the celebrations to mark the 130th anniversary of the oldest social organization of the city - Primorsky regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society - Society for the Study of the Amur region.
Last Saturday in the House of officers of the fleet of the regional center a solemn meeting took place devoted to the anniversary of the Society. In addition, residents were able to participate in master classes on arts and crafts and enjoy a festive concert. The monument to hydrographic researchers of Eastern seas is being restored for the first time since its installation.
The history of the Society for the Study of the Amur region starts in April 1884 when well-known residents of Vladivostok - naval officers, merchants, entrepreneurs - have decided to establish a local history society and a museum in the city. Over the years members of the society were Vladimir Arsenyev known for his literary masterpieces dedicated to Primorsky Krai, the world's first female captain Anna Shchetinina and the father of the famous actor Yul Brynner.
The first article of the Charter reads: "The purpose of the Society is to have comprehensive study on the Amur river, Russian coast of the Eastern Ocean and adjacent areas, get acquainted with them through gathering collections and various information in all fields of natural science, geography, ethnography, archeology and scientific development of collected materials, including development of a library of works about the specified region with no limits to any specialty."
Established as an independent public organization, the Society for the Study of the Amur region has become an important part of the Geographical Society.
Today the Society for the Study of the Amur region is engaged in education, advocacy, publishing, expeditionary and research activities.
"Throughout its long history the archive of the Society have accumulated a vast array of information that is carefully analyzed and widely presented to the public. The Society has priceless data on the biology, abundance and distribution of rare predators (the Amur tiger and the Amur leopard) in the late XIX and early XX centuries. Thanks to this information, it became clear to us, how tigers and humans coexisted in the same territory and what compromises they made a hundred years ago. Thanks to the work of Arsenyev the whole country learned about such wild animals as Amur tigers. After reading his works and watching movies based on them many people fell in love with this proud and beautiful predator. Perhaps, this is one of the reasons why the tiger and the leopard have not been exterminated, "- says director of the Primorsky branch of the Amur Tiger Center Sergey Aramilev.
Members of the Society for the Study of the Amur region were involved in the making up the beloved holiday of Vladivostok – the Tiger Day, which is celebrated on the last Sunday of September. It was one of the members of the Society - Vladimir Troinin who came up with with the idea of this holiday. This year, the Amur Tiger Center will take part in its organization.
Recall that the Amur Tiger Center was established by the Russian Geographical Society in July 2013. At the same time the Primorsky branch of the organization started its work which is closely connected to the Society for the Study of the Amur region in both practical and scientific activities.