The Ministry of Ecology of Kazakhstan and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF International) are set to reintroduce tigers to the republic by settling the animals in a new reserve.

Following an agreement signed by the two parties in mid-July, the Ministry of Ecology stated: “This memorandum is a continuation of successful and fruitful cooperation, which has already led to significant achievements in the restoration of biodiversity and infrastructure of the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve. The tiger’s return to Kazakhstan is an ecologically important project and a symbol of our efforts to restore the natural heritage.”

The project has been many years in the making. In 2021, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed reintroducing tigers to Kazakhstan with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Referencing the fact that the last Turanian tigers were spotted in Kazakhstan in the 1930s, he explained: “These are steppe tigers. In ancient times, they were sabre-toothed, so now we are developing an international project to restore the population of these tigers.”

The long-awaited tigers will arrive this autumn and as reported by the Ministry of Ecology, two tigers, a male and a female, will be delivered from the Netherlands at the expense of the Dutch side in September.

In addition to these animals, in 2023, environmentalists announced plans to release a group of Amur tigers from Russia within five years, following an agreement signed by Russia and Kazakhstan at the Eastern Economic Forum (EEF) in 2022. It was assumed that the first generation of the population would consist of Amur tigers, including those from Primorye. Turanian, otherwise known as Transcaucasian tigers, which used to live in Central Asia, northern Iran, and the Caucasus, are genetically close to Amur tigers but slightly smaller.

The intention to recreate the tiger population in the country was first declared at an international forum dedicated to preserving tigers in 2010.  Kazakhstan announced its readiness to embrace the initiative and since then, has been rigorous in its preparations. In September 2017, a memorandum was signed between the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the government of Kazakhstan on implementing the program  and in 2018, the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve was established, where work to restore the ecosystem is in full swing.

The tiger reintroduction program is planned to span over 35 years and comprises three phases: habitat preparation, predator release, and monitoring the growth of the tiger population. In the Ile-Balkhash reserve, boundaries have been established, communication systems have been set up, and comprehensive territory protection measures have been implemented.

“The reserve territory is a natural complex that includes a variety of natural ecosystems from semi-desert, floodplain, and saxaul forests to wetlands. Such a favorable geographical location and rich forage create favorable conditions for the breeding of wild animals and a large number of birds. Biodiversity of the reserve includes about 40 species of mammals, 284 species of birds, and more than 420 species of plants, many of which are included in the Red Book of Kazakhstan,” the Ministry of Ecology explained.

Since 2019, the reintroduction of the Bukhara deer, a species that disappeared over a century ago, has proved highly successful and today, the reserve has over 100 deer. The number of wild boars and gazelles has also significantly increased.

Careful consideration has been paid to the impact of the project on villagers of Southern Pribalkhash, as outlined by Grigory Mazmanyants, Director of the World Wildlife Fund office in Kazakhstan: “Undoubtedly, the support of residents is one of the most important stages of the tiger reintroduction program. Without their assistance, realizing such an ambitious project is simply impossible. A separate area is being worked on for the economic development of these villages. Cattle breeding and agriculture cannot fully meet the needs of families, which is why one of the program’s directions is to support residents and provide opportunities to develop other sources of income that do not harm the environment. Over the past four years, the WWF has provided more than 40 small grants, established a community development fund, and supported the cultivation of melons for low-income families. Training in working with ecotourists is underway. In particular, attention is focused on the creation of guest houses, the art of being a guide, production of souvenirs, etc.”

According to ecologists, the presence of big wild cats will benefit rural residents. No compensation is available for livestock taken by wolves but since the tigers will replace these predators  in the food chain, their numbers will decline. Given that livestock may fall prey to tigers, the reintroduction program plans to reimburse residents for any losses, and drawing on the experience of the Russian Far East and India, will implement measures to track the animals’ movements to minimize the risk of collision with humans.