Vladik the Amur tiger has been released in Bikin National Park in the Primorye Territory after successfully undergoing rehabilitation at the Centre for the Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of Tigers and Other Rare Animals. The animal was not in a rush to leave but instead surveyed the area for some time and walked around the helicopter he was brought in. The release was attended by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Sergei Donskoi.

Vladik was captured within the borders of Vladivostok in October 2016 and spent six months at the rehabilitation centre where he made a full recovery. At the moment, the tiger is in excellent shape: he weighs 125 kilogrammes, successfully hunts hoofed animals and avoids people. Experts believe that the young predator will not approach residential areas anymore and will remain in the national park where at least 10 tigers are living at the moment. “This place was chosen for a reason. Employees of the security and research departments of Bikin National Park went to the head of the Bikin River to find a suitable place to release the tiger. This area does not belong to any other male tiger or large predator, has many hoofed animals and is located far from residential areas,” said director of the national park Alexei Kudryavtsev.