Tiger journey: Love conquers distance in Siberian wilderness
The separated Siberian tigers are together again. The animals, released in different locations, met after one of the tigers journeyed 200 kilometres to be with his chosen partner. This extraordinary story, akin to a film plot, occurred in Russia.
Siberian tigers (also known as Amur tigers) participated in a Russian research project. Boris and Svetlaya were raised together under special conditions to prepare them for release into the wild.
When the animals were 18 months old, they returned to the 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 wish to live without his companion. The 325-kilogram animal travelled 200 kilometres to reach Svetlaya's location. Researchers discovered that the tiger covered the entire distance almost in a straight line.
From the moment they reunited, the tigers embarked on a further journey together. Six months later, little tigers were born.
The story of Boris and Svetlaya is not merely a film script. The scientific experiment demonstrates that acclimatising wild animals to life in their natural habitat is a feasible endeavour.
The Siberian tigers were released by researchers affiliated with organisations working for 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 minimised. The young tigers learn, among other skills, how to hunt and survive in natural conditions. Thanks to this, they are better adapted for life in the wild.
