Siberian Tiger Journeys 124 Miles Across Russia to Reunite with Girlfriend

In Russia's far east, Boris, a young Siberian tiger, was part of an ambitious reintroduction project aimed at restoring the species to its historic range. Raised in captivity, he was released into the wild but traveled over 200 kilometers (124 miles) to reunite with Svetlaya, a female tiger raised with him. Their bond grew, and soon they had a litter of cubs. This remarkable story is part of the Siberian tiger reintroduction program in the Pri-Amur region, which borders China. Between 2012 and 2021, Siberian tigers were reintroduced to the area after a 50-year absence. Boris and Svetlaya were among six orphaned cubs raised with live prey and GPS collars to track their progress. The success of the project represents a hopeful step in the conservation of this endangered species.