Ukrainian Tiger Mir Relocated to South African Sanctuary

The Ukrainian tiger, Mir, has successfully relocated from the Nature Reserve Center in Oudsbergen, Belgium, to a specialized sanctuary in South Africa. The transfer, initially scheduled two weeks prior, was postponed due to administrative hurdles with the necessary paperwork, which have now been resolved.

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We are going to miss him.

Frederik Thoelen of the Nature Reserve Center expressed that Mir will be missed. The tiger arrived in Belgium in February, having been illegally kept as a pet. His owner fled Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and Mir was subsequently housed in Kyiv. However, due to difficult circumstances, he could no longer remain there.

Thoelen explained that the Oudsbergen center could not permanently house Mir, as such an animal requires a much larger habitat. "Therefore, he can now go to a large center in South Africa. That is the best we can do for such an animal," he stated. Describing Mir, Thoelen added, "He was a very imposing tiger, but he actually behaved like a big house cat. That was very cute."

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So such an animal needs a larger enclosure. Therefore, he can now go to a large center in South Africa. That is the best we can do for such an animal.

The tiger is currently en route to Frankfurt Airport in Germany for a final check before his flight to South Africa at 10 p.m. Thoelen described the most nerve-wracking part as successfully luring Mir into his transport crate with chicken, a feat that thankfully went smoothly on the second attempt.

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He was a very imposing tiger, but he actually behaved like a big house cat. That was very cute.

Mir will reside in a large sanctuary in Johannesburg, equipped with a specialized enclosure for big cats spanning nearly a hectare – a facility unmatched in Europe. Releasing Mir into the wild is not an option, as he has become too accustomed to humans, posing potential risks. Furthermore, he lacks the instinct and skills for hunting in the wild, and his genetic background is unknown, making a wild release inadvisable.

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The most exciting part is over. We were afraid it wouldn't work a second time to lure the tiger into his cage with chicken. Fortunately, that went flawlessly.