Siberian tigers' 200‑kilometre journey rekindles wild romance
The separated Siberian tigers are reunited. The animals, initially released in different locations, came together after one of the tigers travelled a distance of 200 kilometres to find his chosen partner. This extraordinary story, akin to a movie plot, took place in Russia.
Siberian tigers (also known as Amur tigers) participated in a Russian research project. Boris and Svetlaya were raised together under specific conditions to prepare them for release into the wild.
When the animals were 18 months old, they were reintroduced to forested areas. According to "Bild," they were released in different locations in the high mountains of the Sikhote-Alin in eastern Russia.
He missed his beloved tigress. He travelled 200 kilometres
Tiger Boris, however, did not want to live without his companion. The 325-kilogram animal travelled 200 kilometres to reach Svetlaya's location. Researchers discovered that the tiger moved almost in a straight line the entire distance.
Once reunited, the tigers embarked on a further journey together. Six months later, little tigers were born.
The story of Boris and Svetlaya is not just a movie script. The scientific experiment demonstrates that efforts to adapt wild animals to life in nature are effective.
The Siberian tigers were released by researchers associated with organizations committed to animal rights.
This study represents a tantalizing new development in expanding the 'toolbox' for conservationists to return tigers to those parts of Asia where they have been lost, said Dr. Luke Hunter, executive director of the WCS Big Cats programme, as quoted by phys.org.
The study involves raising Siberian tigers in special enclosures, where human contact is minimized. The young tigers learn, among other skills, how to hunt and survive in natural conditions. This preparation helps them adapt to life in the wild.
