Kazakhstan has released a female Amur tiger named Ümit into her natural habitat in the Ile-Balash State Nature Reserve, marking the first time a tiger has returned to its historical habitat in the country after more than 70 years of absence.
The release ceremony was attended by Kazakhstan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nısanbayev and Russia's Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Amur Tiger Center Supervisory Board Konstantin Chuychenko.
Kazakhstan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nısanbayev said the return of tigers to their historical habitats is the result of long-standing collaborative work between Kazakhstan, Russia, and international partners.
After more than 70 years, the first tiger has been released back into its historical habitat.
Before her release, Ümit underwent comprehensive veterinary checks, including assessments of health, behavior, hunting skills, and reaction to humans. She was fitted with a GPS/GSM satellite tracking collar for real-time monitoring, and experts will monitor her 24 hours a day using satellite systems, camera traps, and other modern monitoring methods.
Amur tigers brought to Kazakhstan with Russian support in May 2026; Ümit is one of them.
The tigers brought to Kazakhstan include two adults and two cubs. Ümit's three companions — one male and two cubs — are currently undergoing development and behavior processes in special adaptation areas within the Ile-Balash State Nature Reserve.
The Ile River Valley and the South Balash region have historically been known as the natural habitat of Turan tigers. The Turan tiger became extinct in Kazakhstan in the mid-20th century due to habitat destruction, the decline of wild ungulates, and poaching.
Molecular genetic research has revealed that the Turan tiger and the Amur tiger are genetically almost identical, making the Amur tiger the most suitable source population for re-establishing a tiger population in the historical habitats of Central Asia.
