Female wild Siberian tiger could mate with rescued Wandashan-1 in Heilongjiang

A newly discovered female wild Siberian tiger in Dongning, Heilongjiang province, shares territory with the well-known rescued tiger Wandashan-1, leading experts to believe the two could produce offspring.

Their pairing and breeding would be seen as a breakthrough. Wandashan-1, with his name given by the National Forestry and Grassland Administration, was released into the wild in May 2021. It was the first time that a wild Siberian tiger had been rescued and released in China.

According to monitoring data, Wandashan-1 has been residing in the forest area of Dongning since December 2022. He has adapted well and remains active, with infrared cameras frequently capturing him patrolling and foraging.

The newly discovered short-tailed female tiger has apparently been settled in the area for a long time. The large overlap in their territory creates excellent conditions for natural pairing and offspring.

Her discovery brings the wild Siberian tiger population in Dongning to five: three adult males and two adult females, the local government said.

Since 2021, at least nine individual Siberian tigers have been identified in the area. Considering population distribution, habitat, and activity patterns, experts believe that Wandashan-1 is highly likely to establish a family.

Mei Yingfang contributed to the story.