A man has been jailed for gunning down a protected Siberian tiger in the Far Eastern Russian region of Primoye.

The rare predator was caught after weeks of wandering into a village in Russian Far East.

'Influential businessman' Evgeniy Romanov, 52, avoids jail, despite a host of other 'trophies'.

Animal charity WWF Russia in plea for help to prevent repeat of 1980s winter crisis that killed 90% of species in the region.

More than a dozen animals killed by self-appointed executioner and dumped by a river near lakeside town.

The hungry feline terrorised a village snatching and eating guard dogs in Aleksey-Nikolskoye, even forcing scared children to miss classes.

Earlier reports suggested organised gangs seek to sell gyrfalcons on the black market for as much as $50,000 each. 

Separately, 18 frozen bear paws hidden in coal cargo train nabbed by customs.

Foreigners should be invited to pay $10,000 per animal in novel way to fund cull needed to save reindeer and horses.

Skin and skull of rare animal was hidden in the suspect's car.