The recent data obtained from the Amur tiger population monitoring in the Jewish Autonomous Region showed that the number of predators has not changed in the region.

The data received from the GPS collar of Saikhan the tiger confirmed that he returned from China and is now close to the territory of the tigress from Lazo, his former neighbour at the rehabilitation centre. The tigers are just 40 kilometres apart. Experts are carefully watching their movements and think that the animals could meet again after a six-month break and even form a couple.

“At first, Saikhan confused us all by behaving like Ustin the tiger, who was injured during his cross-border travels and ended up at a zoo. Fortunately, Saikhan came to his senses and returned to the same area that he inhabited after his release. His friend, the tigress from Lazo, stayed at the release site and did not travel much. We hope that Saikhan will reclaim his area, and they will be a couple,” said Sergei Aramilev, general director of the Amur Tiger Centre.

The researcher also said that there is a possibility that Saikhan might cross paths with the tigresses Filippa and Svetlaya, and he will have to compete with Boris the tiger for their attention.

At the same time, the battery in Filippa’s collar ran out, and now experts are watching her using camera traps. The tigress’s movements suggest that she had a litter recently or will have one soon. Researchers will learn about it no earlier than the summer, when the cubs (if they exist) begin to walk together with their mother and get spotted by camera traps.

A field check of the areas inhabited by the reintroduced Amur tigers in the Jewish Autonomous Region will be held in late December 2018-January 2019. Experts hope to receive new data from camera traps.