Kazakhstan has launched a program to restore the population of the Turanian tiger. UN experts believe that the return of the tigers will benefit both the environment and local communities.
Tigers Are Returning
Kazakhstan announced plans for the reintroduction (restoration of endangered species through relocation to areas where they once lived) of tigers at the International Tiger Conservation Forum in 2010.On September 21, a cargo plane delivered Amur tigers from the Dutch predator center Stichting Leeuw, operating at the Landgoed Hoenderdaell Zoo in Anna Paulowna (North Holland Province), to Kazakhstan’s Ile-Balkhash Reserve via Almaty.
Notably, scientists believe that Amur and Turanian tigers are very similar and are practically considered as the same species.
The project was implemented as part of Kazakhstan’s long-term collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The Dutch center donated the tigers free of charge, supporting efforts to preserve biodiversity and restore tiger populations that historically inhabited the Kazakh steppes.
During a joint expedition with Russia and Switzerland, the WWF identified the Ili River Delta and the southern shore of Lake Balkhash as the most suitable areas for restoring the Turanian tiger. Estimates suggest that these territories could support a population of over 100 tigers, marking a significant contribution to global efforts to save the species.
Establishing a minimally sustainable population will require at least 15 years.
The idea of reintroducing tigers to Central Asia using the Amur tiger has been under discussion for the past decade and gained the support of Kazakhstan’s government in 2010. In 2018, the primary area for tiger reintroduction was established—the Ile-Balkhash Reserve, created with the support of the UNDP.
Since then, efforts have focused on preparing the area, including restoring the ecosystem, ensuring protection, and increasing the population of hoofed animals, which serve as potential prey for tigers. These initiatives have completed the first phase of the program, aimed at creating a safe and sustainable environment for future tiger population growth.
Today, according to the UNDP, the results of this “meticulous and dedicated work” are already visible. The organization believes that the arrival of the first tigers in Kazakhstan is evidence of the program’s successful implementation.
“Since 2018, when the reserve was established, significant efforts have been made to restore the ecosystem of Southern Balkhash, protect the area, and increase the population of hoofed animals. Through the joint efforts of the Forestry and Wildlife Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan (MEGNR), the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and UNDP, ranger stations have been built, communication established, and protection of the specially protected natural area has been ensured,” noted the WWF in a statement provided to CABAR.asia.
Why Did Tigers Leave the Kazakh Steppes?
By the early 1940s, tigers had completely disappeared from Kazakhstan. This was due to the conversion of land into cotton fields and the mass extermination of tigers, which were then considered harmful predators.
According to UNDP experts, the Turanian tiger once inhabited regions stretching from northeastern Turkey, Iraq, Iran, the Caucasus, Afghanistan, and Central Asia to Kazakhstan and northwestern China, reaching as far as the Tarim Basin and Lake Lop Nur.
In Kazakhstan, the primary factors contributing to the decline and eventual disappearance of tigers were the development of agricultural lands, construction of railways, widespread hunting, and the extermination of tigers and other valuable animals by settlers for trophies.
Scientists identify human expansion into natural tiger habitats, such as the steppes, as the main reason for the Turanian tiger’s extinction. In Kazakhstan, tigers were also actively hunted and persecuted.
Since 1891, special hunts involving soldiers and dedicated units were conducted, leading to the extermination of tigers and the destruction of their habitat. By the mid-1960s, the Turanian tiger was listed in the Red Book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
UNDP experts believe that implementing the project to reintroduce the Turanian tiger will also address socio-economic development issues, contributing to the sustainable livelihood of residents in the Ili-Balkhash region.
Experts note that the well-being of the local population depends on the stability of ecosystems such as Lake Balkhash, the Ili River, and riparian forests. The recreational and tourism potential of the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve is expected to significantly increase with the implementation of the Turanian tiger reintroduction program in Kazakhstan.
“The work carried out within the project will have a long-term impact and bring significant transformation to the environment and economic activities in the region, aimed at restoring the disrupted components of the coastal and delta ecosystems,” UNDP Kazakhstan stated to CABAR.asia.
The organization notes that maintaining the ecosystem will lead to an overall increase in the population of wild animals.
“Increased interest from the global conservation community will drive socio-economic growth among the local population. This is how ecological and rural tourism systems function,” UNDP Kazakhstan highlighted.
The tiger reintroduction program is planned for no less than 35 years and consists of several stages: habitat preparation, animal release into the wild, and monitoring the program’s success.
Currently, the first stage is nearing completion, focusing on territory preparation and ecosystem restoration.
As experts from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) emphasize, restoring the tiger population is not just about conserving the species itself. This predator helps to restore the ecosystem to its natural state before human interference, contributing to its revival. The program plays a key role in Kazakhstan’s biodiversity conservation plans and in fulfilling the country’s international commitments.
Tigers Guarding Nature
A tiger enclosure built by the WWF at the border of the Ile-Balkhash reserve is surrounded by a three-meter fence and equipped with a 24/7bvideo surveillance system for monitoring the animals. According to the organization, the facility contains six one-meter enclosures and an observation center nearby, staffed by three workers responsible for feeding and ensuring the tigers’ safety. The enclosures are protected by a reinforced gabion wire mesh, enhancing structural strength and preventing unauthorized access.
The WWF notes that to ensure safe coexistence between tigers and humans, the Ile-Balkhash reserve operates a specialized team trained to prevent tigers from leaving the reserve or entering populated areas.
The primary responsibilities of the staff include regular patrolling of the area, monitoring the predators’ movements using satellite collars, and preventing potential tiger incursions into populated areas.
All actions taken by the conflict mitigation team will follow clearly defined protocols and methodologies. Specialists will track the animals’ movements via satellite collars and restrict their migration beyond the reserve’s boundaries.
Additionally, a team of specialists has been established to capture and immobilize tigers if absolutely necessary.Experts use satellite collars to monitor the animals’ movements and control their migration, while the capture and immobilization team remains on standby for emergency situations.
WWF predicts that tigers will displace wolves from their niche in the food chain.
“Tigers might even be beneficial to local communities. By replacing wolves in the food chain, they could help reduce livestock attacks,” WWF experts said in an interview with CABAR.asia.
The organization also noted that in cases of damage, such as if a tiger kills a cow or a horse, the owners will be eligible for compensation.
Overall, the return of tigers to the region could become a significant driver for developing eco-tourism in these areas of Kazakhstan. According to an agreement with Russia, three to four more tigers will be brought from the wild to Kazakhstan in 2025. It is expected that their offspring will become wild tigers, reappearing in the country after more than a 70-year absence.