India, Nov. 5 -- Kazakhstan has released a second Amur tiger into the wild as part of its efforts to restore the big cats to their historical habitat. The country lost its native tiger population more than 70 years ago.

The male tiger, named Amur, was released into the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in south-eastern Kazakhstan on October 31, according to Asatana Times. He joins Umit, a female tiger released into the same reserve on July 31.

The releases are part of a long-term programme to reintroduce tigers to Central Asia. The region was once home to the Caspian, also known as the Turan, tiger.

After arriving in Kazakhstan, Amur was kept in a specially equipped acclimatisation enclosure at the Ile-Balkhash reserve. Specialists sup...