A tigress has appeared in the Bolshekhekhtsirsky Nature Reserve near Khabarovsk for the first time in 10 years.

Experts saw the young tigress this spring near the Kabanya River, but thought that the female did not live there. However, the tigress has again left her paw print on the road. “Judging by the size of the paw, the tigress is about three years old. She lives in Maly Khekhtsir,” said Konstantin Shaidurov, head of the Bolshekhekhtsirsky branch of Preserved Priamurye.

Experts believe that the tigress might have a litter next year because an adult male tiger lives nearby. Besides, according to last year’s count, several more males visit Khekhtsir from time to time.

A new count will be conducted at the end of December to estimate the number of striped predators inhabiting the reserve.