VIDEO SHOWS: AMUR TIGER RELEASED FROM CAGE INTO WILDERNESS AS PART OF TIGER REPOPULATION PROGRAM / AERIAL VIEWS OF TIGER AFTER BEING RELEASED / COMMENTS BY KAZAKH MINISTER OF ECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

SHOWS: ALMATY REGION, KAZAKHSTAN (RELEASED AUGUST 3, 2026) (Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources - No archive / No resales / Must on-screen courtesy "Kazakhstan's Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources")

STORY: A female Amur tiger named Umit sprinted out of her cage into the wilds of the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve in Kazakhstan and disappeared in the tall grass. Her release is part of a long-developed reintroduction project to restore the extinct Caspian tiger to Central Asia. Amur and Caspian tigers are closely related, so Umit will not find it difficult to adjust to the new conditions, Kazakh Ecology Minister Yerlan Nyssanbayev said. Caspian tigers used to populate vast areas of Central Asia but became extinct in the 20th century as a result of hunting, habitat destruction and the disappearance of their prey base. Umit is one of the four Amur tigers that were transferred from Russia to Kazakhstan as part of the program to restore the population. The timing of the release of the remaining three will be determined based on the data collected by observing Umit in her new habitat. Despite being an apex predator and having no natural competitors, Amur tigers are vulnerable to the decline of their prey base as a result of human activities. The restoration of a sustainable tiger population in Central Asia will take decades, with the current project set to continue for another 25 years, Nyssanbayev said.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. AMUR TIGER NAMED UMIT IN CAGE

2. CAGE DOOR OPENING, TIGER RUNNING AWAY

3. VARIOUS OF SLOWED DOWN FOOTAGE OF TIGER RUNNING AWAY (SLOWED DOWN AT SOURCE) (MUTE)

4. VARIOUS AERIAL VIEWS OF TIGER IN OUTDOOR ENCLOSURE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZAKH MINISTER OF ECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YERLAN NYSSANBAYEV, SAYING:

"This is a historic day. We are beginning the implementation of the Caspian tiger reintroduction project. Preparations have been under way for a long time, for 10 years."

6. AERIAL VIEW OF TIGER IN ENCLOSURE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZAKH MINISTER OF ECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YERLAN NYSSANBAYEV, SAYING:

"The tiger project is of great importance for restoring the ecosystem. As you know, the long chain of biodiversity is made up of various plant and animal species, and the loss of any single species can lead to irreversible processes."

8. VARIOUS OF AERIAL VIEWS OF ENCLOSURE, TIGER IN ENCLOSURE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZAKH MINISTER OF ECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YERLAN NYSSANBAYEV, SAYING:

"The habitat conditions for this tiger in the Russian Federation are different. Nevertheless, this is an area where its relative, the Caspian tiger, once lived. That is why we are more than confident that the tigers will feel quite comfortable here."

10. AERIAL VIEW OF SURROUNDING AREA

11. (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) KAZAKH MINISTER OF ECOLOGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, YERLAN NYSSANBAYEV, SAYING:

"The project is designed to run for 35 years. We have, so to speak, already been working within that timeframe. Another 25 years lie ahead. The release of the tiger today will help us understand the possible timetable for the release of other tigers in the future."

12. VARIOUS OF AERIAL VIEWS OF TIGER RUNNING IN GRASS