Russia has gifted end of May Kazakhstan a pair of adult Amur tigers and two cubs, set for release into the wild, as part of the country’s efforts to restore the population of large predators in Central Asia. The news was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin in a publication ahead of his official visit to Kazakhstan.
The animals were captured in the Khabarovsk Territory in Russia’s Far East and transported by plane to Kazakhstan. The Kremlin said the tigers will soon be released into the wild as part of a program to restore the species.
Kazakhstan wants to return tigers to the region
Kazakhstan views the Amur tiger as a close relative of the now extinct Caspian tiger, which once inhabited the region.
The country has been working on projects to return tigers to their natural habitat for years.
This is not the first such gesture from Moscow. In 2022, Russia sent 30 thoroughbred gray horses to North Korea amid deepening cooperation between the two countries. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is known for his love of horse riding.
Putin’s visits also have strategic goals
During his visit to Kazakhstan, Vladimir Putin will also participate in the signing of an agreement on a nuclear project. Measures to accelerate the transit of Russian oil to China are also expected to be discussed.
Illustrative photo: pexels-marcus-80608062-30730863
