Beijing, Nov 7 (IANS): China is stepping up efforts to protect Siberian tigers roaming along its border with Russia.

Police authorities in Heilongjiang province have launched a campaign to collect traps placed in border forests by poachers, a police official told Xinhua Friday.

"These traps may not be set for Siberian tigers, but they certainly threaten the existence of them," the official said.

Traces of the endangered tigers, also known as Amur tigers, have been reported in northeast China.

A Siberian tiger allegedly entered China in October after being released by Russian President Vladimir Putin into the wild.

The official said that the authorities are also raising local awareness on how to protect endangered wildlife by handing out brochures and explaining the consequences of poaching.

One of the world's rarest animals, Siberian tigers mainly live in east Russia, northeast China and northern parts of the Korean Peninsula.

Fewer than 500 Siberian tigers are believed to be left in the wild.