Two Amur tigers, Saikhan and Lazovka, who underwent rehabilitation at the Centre for the Rehabilitation and Reintroduction of Tigers and Other Rare Animals (Tiger Centre) in the Primorye Territory, were released into the wild in the Jewish Autonomous Region. An adaptation enclosure, specially built for the tigers in the taiga, was opened remotely on 19 May. As of now, it is known that the tigress from Lazo was the first to leave the enclosure on the evening of 19 May and went east, and Saikhan ran out on the morning of 20 May and headed to the west.

According to the experts, it is too early to assess the results of the first soft release, which suggests that the tigers will not part ways, but will stay together and subsequently produce offspring. “It is clearly too soon to make conclusions, and the distance between the two tigers is less than the daily pace. Who knows, maybe they agreed that they would first examine the area and then meet up again. Nevertheless, the main thing is that they are free. They did not tear off each other’s collars, which means that we can watch them. I am glad that the tigers have not returned to the temporary enclosure,” said Sergei Aramilev, general director of the Amur Tiger Centre.

At the time of release of the tiger pair, there is already a stable group of this rare predator in the northwestern part of the Amur tiger habitat within the Jewish Autonomous Region. Thirteen tigers, including Saikhan and Lazovka, live there on a permanent basis. The food supply, minimal human impact and protection contribute to the success in settling Amur tigers in the region.