Two Turanian tigers brought from the Netherlands last year have successfully completed their first winter in Kazakhstan’s Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve.
The tigers are housed in spacious enclosures, each exceeding 0.5 hectares. Their adaptation is progressing well, with the predators actively hunting small game, including birds such as magpies and crows that venture into their feeding areas.
Historically, Turanian tigers thrived in the reed beds and forests at the mouth of the Ili River near Lake Balkhash. However, the species was last sighted in the region in 1948, and subsequently declared extinct.
Revival Program for Turanian Tigers
Kazakhstan is undertaking an ambitious program to restore the Turanian tiger population. In addition to the two Amur tigers brought to the Ile-Balkhash Reserve for captive breeding, three or four more wild tigers are expected to arrive from Russia in 2025.
Efforts to establish a sustainable ecosystem for these predators have been ongoing since 2018. To create a natural prey base, the reserve has introduced 205 riparian deer and over 100 kulans. Additionally, populations of roe deer and wild boars have been bolstered to support the tigers’ dietary needs.
This marks a significant step in Kazakhstan’s conservation journey, reviving an iconic species that once roamed its landscapes.
