Authorities in Heilongjiang province, northern China, have issued warnings after a rare sighting of Siberian tigers.
The alert follows a viral video showing a farmer narrowly escaping an attack by one of the animals. The incident occurred early Monday morning and has drawn widespread attention on social media.
The video, shared on Weibo and verified by Reuters, shows a farmer stepping outside and spotting the tiger, according to Digi24.
He quickly retreats and shuts a large iron gate. The tiger charges at the gate but fails to get through. The footage has been viewed millions of times, sparking concern among residents.
Roaming Freely
Two men were attacked by the tigers. One of them, a 65-year-old cattle farmer named Zhao, was severely injured.
He required surgery to save his left hand after the encounter.
Zhao’s son told local media that the tigers were roaming freely. Officials have not confirmed the number of tigers involved or whether they have been captured.
This is the first sighting of a Siberian tiger in Boli County. Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant.
They are encouraged to report tiger tracks or droppings, supervise livestock, and organize local patrols. Notifications also warn that Siberian tigers are most active at dawn and dusk.
Siberian tigers are a protected species in China. Only around 70 remain in the wild across the country. Conservation efforts have led to occasional sightings as their population slowly recovers.
Experts note that Siberian tigers are less aggressive compared to other big cats and can coexist with humans in certain conditions.
