Caspian Tiger Returns to Kazakhstan After Decades of Extinction
A female caspian tiger has been released into a nature reserve in Kazakhstan, marking the first time the species has been reintroduced to the region after being declared extinct
The release of a female caspian tiger named Umit into a nature reserve on the edge of Lake Balkhash in Kazakhstan has been hailed as a historic event. Umit, which means hope in Kazakh, was transported from the Russian far east and will be joined by more big cats in the coming years. The goal is to establish a self-sustaining population of about 50 caspian tigers in the region.
Background
The caspian tiger was considered extinct in the 1970s due to decades of fur hunting, habitat destruction, and eradication campaigns. Its range once spanned from eastern Turkey to north-west China, including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, and swathes of central Asia. However, a scientific breakthrough in 2009 revealed that the caspian tiger and the amur tiger found in eastern Siberia were almost identical, with populations probably intermingling until the early 1900s.
Reintroduction Efforts
A 2017 feasibility study identified two places in the region with enough suitable habitat to re-establish populations, both in Kazakhstan. The most promising was thought to be Ile-Balkhash, where Umit was released, which the Kazakh government made a nature reserve in 2018. The release of Umit is the first example of a cross-border tiger translocation, and it is hoped that it will pave the way for further reintroduction efforts.
Challenges Ahead
While the release of Umit is a significant step forward, there are still many challenges ahead. Wild tigers have suffered a catastrophic century, with numbers falling from about 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to about 5,500 today. Ensuring there is enough food for the returning caspian tigers is key to their survival, and the impact of climate breakdown and disease on tiger populations is a major concern. According to Dale Miquelle, an authority on Siberian tigers, the success of the reintroduction efforts will depend on the availability of suitable habitat and sufficient prey.
Comparison of Tiger Subspecies
The following table compares the caspian tiger and the amur tiger: The caspian tiger and the amur tiger are almost identical, with populations probably intermingling until the early 1900s. The caspian tiger was separated from the amur tiger by a single letter of genetic code, and it is hoped that the reintroduction of the caspian tiger to Kazakhstan will be successful in establishing a self-sustaining population.
