Kazakhstan plans to release at least 10 tigers into the wild by 2033 as part of its efforts to restore the country's tiger population, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Alibek Kuantyrov has said.

According to the minister, Kazakhstan aims to increase the tiger population to around 50, allowing the animals to reproduce naturally in the wild without human intervention, The Caspian Post reports, citing Qazinform.

Kuantyrov said the reintroduction programme would be implemented in several stages, beginning with the release of tigers into the wild and followed by efforts to establish suitable conditions for natural breeding.

"We plan to release at least 10 tigers into the wild by 2033, although this number may change depending on the progress of the program. Our ultimate goal is to establish a population of around 50 tigers, which would allow them to reproduce naturally without human intervention," the minister said.

Kuantyrov also said Kazakhstan intends to continue cooperating with Russian partners on the tiger reintroduction programme. Several tigers previously brought into the country are already being kept in special enclosures.

"We already have tigers brought in from zoos, but they will not be released into the wild. Instead, they will be used for breeding in Kazakhstan, with their offspring eventually prepared for release into their natural habitat," he explained.