Kazakhstan continues its program to reintroduce tigers into the wild. Another Amur tiger, named Amur, has been released into its natural habitat in the Southern Balkhash area. Kursiv LifeStyle looks at the details.
According to the press service of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, the release marks another step toward restoring the population of predators that disappeared from the country more than half a century ago.
Why Kazakhstan is restoring its tiger population
Tigers historically inhabited Kazakhstan. They lived in tugai forests — a type of riparian forest — along the Ili River and in Southern Balkhash.
However, the animals disappeared from the country in the mid-20th century due to poaching, habitat destruction and declining prey populations.
Kazakhstan is now working to reintroduce tigers to parts of the country where they once lived. Amur tigers were selected for the program because genetic studies have shown that they are genetically similar to the extinct Turan tigers.
What comes next?
Amur’s release is part of the tiger reintroduction program. Earlier, specialists released a female Amur tiger named Umit. They will now monitor the animals’ health and movements, restore their habitats and increase prey populations.
