A press conference on Kazakhstan’s tiger population restoration programme was held in Astana on 4 November. Participants included Kazakhstan’s Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Alibek Kuantyrov and Freedom Holding Corp. founder and chief executive officer Timur Turlov.
The event presented the results of years of work to return tigers to their historical habitat, along with the main stages of the reintroduction programme.
On 31 October, an Amur tiger named Amur was released in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve. He became the second tiger released into Kazakhstan’s natural environment. A tigress named Үміт was released into the wild earlier, on 31 July.
The Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve was established in 2018 to create conditions for the tiger’s return. Its area was expanded to 450,000 hectares in January 2026. Work in the reserve includes restoring ecosystems, protecting habitats and increasing the food supply. More than 200 Bukhara deer and 140 kulans have been relocated there.
Kuantyrov said the release of two tigers was the first practical result of years of work. The next tasks are to continue monitoring the animals, protect their natural habitats and restore their food supply. The programme aims to establish a self-sustaining tiger population in the Ili River delta and southern Balkhash region.
Four Amur tigers arrived in Kazakhstan from the Russian Federation in May this year: Amur, Үміт and two cubs, Тұран and Уссури. Үміт now hunts independently and has established a home range. Specialists track the tigers’ movements and adaptation using satellite collars. The two cubs remain in specially equipped adaptation enclosures under expert supervision.
A special team has been formed to help protect local residents. It tracks the tigers, communicates with residents and works to prevent potential conflicts. Freedom Holding Corp. and the Freedom “Shapagat” corporate foundation support the programme, including the training of Kazakh specialists in Russia, improvements to the adaptation enclosures and the transport of the tigers.
