An unknown male tiger was captured by trail cameras at the Bastak Nature Reserve in the Jewish Autonomous Region. The results of regular photo monitoring showed that the adult tigress Zolushka and two males, Zavetny and Bastak, still live in the reserve. Zavetny seems to not mind that young Bastak lives in his territory, but it is yet unknown if he would be as tolerant to the new tiger.

Experts link the “inrush” of tigers into the reserve to Zolushka, who is ready to mate and leaves markings that attract males from neighbouring areas. This also caused a fight between two tigers near the Sagdy-Bira River at the end of January. The tracks showed that one of the tigers later left for the border of the Jewish Autonomous Region and the Khabarovsk Territory. Experts believe that the appearance of a new male might complicate the situation in the local population.