Putin spoke about the Amur tigers gifted to Kazakhstan

Russian President Vladimir Putin highlighted the successful transfer of Amur tigers to Kazakhstan, emphasizing ecological cooperation and biodiversity preservation as a key area of partnership between the two nations. Putin shared details of the operation, which saw two adult tigers and a pair of cubs captured in Russia's Khabarovsk Territory.

These animals underwent thorough medical examinations, including reproductive health checks, before being transported to Kazakhstan via an Aeroflot flight. The initiative responds to a request from Kazakh partners seeking assistance in restoring the Amur tiger population within their country. The Amur tiger, one of the world's rarest predators, is listed in the International Red Data Book, with an estimated population of around 750 individuals in Russia.

Currently, Russian and Kazakh scientists are working collaboratively on the adaptation and acclimatization of the tigers at the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve. The ultimate goal is to release them into the wild soon. This joint effort follows a memorandum signed in November 2025 by Kazakhstan's Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Yerlan Nysanbayev, and his Russian counterpart, Alexander Kozlov, outlining a plan for the introduction and adaptation of Amur tigers from Russia to Kazakhstan. The signing took place in the presence of Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Vladimir Putin during Putin's state visit to Kazakhstan.

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An important area of our partnership is ecology and the preservation of biodiversity. In response to a request from our Kazakh friends for assistance in restoring the Amur tiger population in Kazakhstan, our relevant agencies have carried out the necessary work over the past year. Two adult tigers and a pair of cubs were captured in the Khabarovsk Territory; they underwent medical examinations, including reproductive health checks, and were transported to Kazakhstan on an Aeroflot flight. Currently, Russian and Kazakh scientists are working together on their adaptation and acclimatization at the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve, and the tigers will soon be released into the wild.