Tigress Umіt in Balkhash region: Residents to reveive SMS alerts if it enters village

An alert system for monitoring the movements of Umіt, a tigress released in the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve, is operational in the Balkhash region. An SMS notification will be sent when the predator enters a farm or village, El.kz reports.

Umіt arrived in the Balkhash region as part of a programme to restore the Amur tiger population in Kazakhstan. In August 2026, the tigress was released into her historical range for the first time in over 70 years. Following her release, Umіt has been gradually adapting to her new habitat.

According to the Almaty Region Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Regulation, in response to an inquiry from Tengri Travel, the SMS alert system is already operational. Notifications are received by farmers located within a 50-kilometre radius of the reserve boundaries, as well as by residents of Karoy village.

When will an SMS alert be sent?

The notification is generated automatically by a system linked to the tigress’s GPS collar. If Umіt approaches a farm within 5 kilometres, an alert is sent to the farm owner.

If the tigress approaches Karoy village within the same distance, the notification is sent to the local administration and a police representative. The department emphasized that the system generates notifications automatically, without any time lag.

What zones have been designated for the tigress?

The territory of the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve covers over  450,000 hectares. Access to the reserve by unauthorized persons is prohibited, and unlawful entry may result in administrative or criminal liability.

At present, Umіt’s habitat has been divided into three zones. The tigress’s primary habitat and hunting grounds are located in the green zone, which, according to specialists, does not pose a threat to nearby populated areas.

If the tigress moves into the yellow zone, a specially established human-wildlife conflict management team will be deployed. The team is equipped with vehicles and the necessary equipment to respond to incidents.

What will happen if there is a threat to people?

Anuarbek Bermagambetov, Head of the Department for Hunting Management and Wildlife, described the response system during the Bügın.LIVE programme on Jibek Joly TV.

“We have three vehicles, a snowmobile, an all-terrain vehicle, night-vision devices, a satellite phone and Starlink. If the tiger enters the red zone, an alert will be declared. Residents of nearby populated areas will be notified through the mobile alert system,” Anuarbek Bermagambetov said.

If the tigress enters the red zone, specialists will first attempt to return her to the green zone. For residents of the Balkhash region, the key protective mechanism is already in place: Umіt’s movements are monitored using her GPS collar, and when it enters populated areas, the system automatically issues a warning.

If a genuine threat to human safety arises, the human-wildlife conflict response team will be engaged.