By Aliyah Siddiqui
Nation & World Editor
The Good News Lion is the Nation & World section’s biweekly news segment, highlighting positive news in the country and around the world. The theme of this article is animals returning home.
Kazakhstan reintroduces Siberian tigers to the country
After being declared extinct from the country for over 70 years, Kazakhstan has recently received two captive Amur tigers named Bodhana and Kuma. With support from the World Wildlife Fund and United Nations Development Program, Kazakhstan is planning to restore the Ile-Balkhash delta ecosystem.
“Today marks a monumental conservation milestone to bring tigers back to Kazakhstan and central Asia,” said Stuart Chapman, leader of WWF Tigers Alive. “This tiger translocation is a critical step to not only bring back the big cat to its historic homeland but also to rewild an entire ecosystem.”
The tigers, having originated from the Anna Paulowna Sanctuary in the Netherlands, are currently residing in a semi-natural enclosure in Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve. The WWF reports that their offspring will be released into the wild, marking the first international tiger reintroduction program and reestablishing the tiger population in the nation.
According to CABAR.asia, the tiger population was decimated in the Caspian area due to human development on natural lands, over-hunting and reduced prey. Years later, the government began extensive efforts to revitalize the delta ecosystem, creating the Ile-Balkhash Nature Reserve and reintroducing tiger prey including the endangered Bukhara deer and Kulan. Stricter hunting laws also allowed wild pig populations to come back.
The reintroduction of tigers not only benefits the local ecosystem, but also the nearby communities. Adilbaev Zhasar, the head of local community group, “Auyldastar,” described the benefits of the program.
“With the launch of the tiger reintroduction program, we have witnessed a significant change — the revival of nature and our village of Karoi. This project not only restores lost ecosystems, but also fills us with pride in participating in a historic process,” Zhasar said. “Because of small grants from WWF, we have the opportunity to do what we love, develop small businesses and create jobs in the village, which brings joy and confidence in the future.”
New Zealanders save over 30 stranded pilot whales
After over 30 pilot whales got stuck on a New Zealand beach, wildlife conservation workers and local residents worked to free them by lifting them on sheets. Although four whales died, the rest of the pod has not been trapped again on the beach, according to the Associated Press.
“It’s amazing to witness the genuine care and compassion people have shown toward these magnificent animals,” said Joel Lauterbach, a Department of Conservation spokesperson. “This response demonstrates the deep connection we all share with our marine environment.”
It’s unclear how the whales became stranded, but whale strandings are common in New Zealand. Scientists believe that the North and South islands, due to their shallow beaches, may confuse the species as they depend on echolocation to navigate.
According to the Associated Press, a Māori ceremony was held for the deceased whales, as the whales are considered a sacred treasure.
Endangered animals return to Madagascar
Thailand plans to send over 900 endangered tortoises and lemurs back to Madagascar after discovering the animals in an anti-animal trafficking operation. CNN reports the first batch of animals were delivered on Nov. 30.
In May, Thai police found 1,117 animals in the operation, including spider tortoises, radiated tortoises, ring-tailed lemurs and brown lemurs, all of which are considered endangered species. Some animals have died since due to poor health sustained when they were smuggled and the inability to adapt to the different environment.
These creatures are sought after to keep as exotic pets, and illegal trading in wildlife and timber ranks as the second-biggest danger to Madagascar's biodiversity. However, Attapol Charoenchansa, director of Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, said that the repatriation operation would discourage future trafficking plans.
“By conducting operations like this and broadcasting them globally, it shows that there are arrests and exchanges happening, making people worldwide aware that possessing these animals is not right,” Charoenchansa said. “Some might think that if they have the money, they can buy and collect them, but that’s not the case.”
Five orphaned bear cubs returned to the Colorado wilderness
Five bear cubs were released nearby Pagosa Springs, Colorado, after being orphaned in July. As the cubs were determined to be too young to survive on their own, the cubs were taken to Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center to grow and socialize in a safe environment.
According to ABC, the mother of one set of three cubs entered a home in Durango, Colorado and was subsequently euthanized due to the threat she posed to public safety. The other two cubs were found in separate instances, including one in which a cub was walking alone on a resident’s property.
At the rehabilitation center, the cubs were kept separate from humans to ensure that they keep their natural fear and will be able to adapt once they return to the wild. The bears did not see a person feeding them and taking was prohibited close to the cubs. Their diet also reflected their natural one.
The decision to release the cubs now was as they were able to grow during rehab and they would have time before winter to prepare for hibernation and finding a den. The drop-off site was also chosen to reduce the risk of the bears returning near people’s homes or roads.
John Livingston, the Southwest Region public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told ABC that the rehabilitation and return efforts were important to promote Colorado’s wildlife.
“Our officers deeply care about our wildlife here in Colorado and trying to give those animals a second opportunity,” Livingston said. “It's a great opportunity to, you know, help these animals out.”
