A Historic Moment: The Tiger Returns to Kazakhstan!

Imagine this: after more than 70 years of silence, the mighty roar of the tiger returns to the vast plains of Kazakhstan.

This year (2024), two Amur tigers, Bodhana and Kuma, arrived in Kazakhstan. Their journey marks the beginning of an ambitious conservation project, led by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF-NL), the Kazakh government and UNDP.

One of the captive tigers (see photo) from a big cat sanctuary in the Netherlands is released into a semi-wild enclosure in Kazakhstan.

The goal? The return of the tiger after seven decades of absence.

The First Steps to Wild Freedom

Bodhana and Kuma are currently in an acclimatization enclosure (semi-wild) near the protected nature reserve. Here they are getting used to their new environment. According to Kazakh Minister of Ecology Yerlan Nyssanbayev, this is not only an ecologically important project, but also a symbol of joint efforts to restore Kazakhstan’s natural heritage. In 2017, the Kazakh government and WWF signed an agreement to reintroduce the endangered Turania tiger, also known as the Caspian tiger, to the Ili River delta.

Hope for the Future

This project is much more than just saving the tiger, it is about fully restoring an entire ecosystem.

The Caspian Tiger: A Symbol of Hope

The Caspian tiger, which became extinct more than 70 years ago, once lived in high densities in the Lake Balkhash region. Amur tigers, closely related to this extinct species, are now seen as its ecological successors.

What's Still to Happen?

The future looks promising. If all goes according to plan, Bodhana and Kuma’s offspring will be the first wild tigers to roam Kazakhstan since the 1950s. In addition, three or four more tigers are expected to be transferred from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2025.

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An inspiring story of cooperation, restoration and hope. Kazakhstan proves that it is possible to bring back extinct species and work together with nature – a lesson for the whole world!

Want to read more about nature restoration? Check out our post about The Iberian Lynx!

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