Russian and Chinese officials are scrambling to find a tiger that swam off to China after being released into the wild by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Chinese officials were put on high alert to search for Kuzya the tiger after he swam across the Amur River last Tuesday, 300 miles from where he was released into the Siberian wilderness by Putin in May, The New York Times reported.
Kuzya's Russian handlers are worried the Siberian tiger might fall victim to Chinese poachers.
"There is still hope that Kuzya will be sensible and swim back before the river turns to icy slush," the Russian paper Novaya Gazeta wrote.
Kuzya is one of three rare cats that Putin oversaw the release of into the remote Amur region in eastern Siberia, according to Reuters. Officials have been able to use the tracker Kuzya was tagged with to pick up his trail somewhere in the Taipinggou nature reserve in northeastern China.
It is believed the 23-month-old tiger left his homeland in search of food. Chinese wildlife officials said they are prepared to release cows in the area for extra food.
"We will make joint efforts with the Russian side to carry out protection of wild Siberian tigers which travel back and forth between China and Russia," said ministry spokesman Hong Lei, according to The NY Times.
But Kuzya swam into dangerous territory, where his body can rake in a $10,000 payday for poachers. The rare tigers are valued for their bones that are used for a particular wine and other parts used for traditional Chinese medicines.
Hunting brought the Siberian tigers to the brink of extinction. But even though their numbers have increased thanks to Russian and Chinese government measures, dozens are still being killed every year, The NY Times reported.
"How long before this poor tiger becomes a rug in some rich official's house?" wrote one Chinese blogger.
