Good news from Russia is too rare an occurrence to ignore. Here is a successful conservation story, with Amur tigers thriving again in the Far East of the country at more than 540 individuals compared to less than 40 back in the 1940s — with a 28.5-percent population increase in the last decade alone. The latest census was orchestrated by the Russian government in partnership with WWF. The organization has applauded Russia’s strong political commitment to enforce strengthened regulations against poaching and trafficking endangered animals. It helps, apparently, that Vladimir Putin has a soft spot for big cats.