First tiger in 70 years roams free in Kazakhstan — female Umit released in nature reserve

A female Amur tiger named Umit, meaning "hope" in Kazakh, has been released into the Ile-Balkhash nature reserve in Kazakhstan. She is the first tiger to live in the wild in the country in approximately 70 years, since the last Turanian tiger was recorded there in 1948. Genetic research showed that the Amur tiger is nearly genetically identical to the extinct Turanian tiger, forming the basis of a rewilding plan for Central Asia.

Similar stories

🔬 Science Kazakhstan releases first Amur tiger into the wild in over 70 years to revive extinct Caspian species Al Jazeera · 6d ago 🔬 Science Iberian lynx returns to northern Iberian Peninsula after more than 100 years PAP Nauka · 2d ago 🔬 Science Australia is the world's extinction hotspot — but one animal offers a glimmer of hope BBC World · 2d ago