The rare Siberian tiger released into the wild in May by President Vladimir Putin has struck a hen house in northeastern China, Chinese media reported Wednesday.
The country's state-run Xinhua News Agency said the Amur tiger, called Kuzya, had eaten five chickens at a farm in the Heilongjiang province, a move which may prompt local hunters to target the animal.
It was unclear how Kuzya had been identified as the chickens' killer, but the animal was fitted with a tracking device that has previously allowed Russian officials to track his movements.
Kuzya shocked observers by swimming across the Amur River and into China in early October, months after Putin had released it in a remote part of the Amur region.
Earlier, Chinese officials said Kuzya had been tracked to China's Taipinggou nature reserve. At that time, they said they could release cattle into the area to feed the tiger if she needed it, according to the Xinhua agency.
Amur tigers are an endangered tiger subspecies, with only about 400 left in the wild, according to available estimates.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
