Siberian tiger that terrified Vladivostok gets new wild home

MOSCOW – A Siberian tiger that terrorized Russia’s Far East city of Vladivostok by prowling its suburbs has been relocated to a vast Russian national park where officials hope he will thrive.

The tiger, nicknamed Vladik, was captured in October on the edge of Vladivostok. He flown by helicopter Monday to Bikin National Park, 500 kilometres (350 miles) further north.

Russia has declared Siberian, or Amur, tigers a protected species. Only about 540 are estimated to live in the wild.

World Wildlife Fund video shows the tiger appearing initially bewildered when his cage was opened. But he then leapt out with a growl, ran around the space where the helicopter landed and disappeared into the woods.

Pavel Fomenko of WWF says Vladik “has little chance of wandering into urban jungles again.”

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A previous version of this story said the number of tigers in the wild is estimated at 54.