An endangered tiger obsessed with the bright lights of a city has escaped his Siberian exile and walked 450 miles to the place he loves.

Last October, Vkadik - a rare Amur tiger - caused panic in the Russian Pacific capital of Vladivostok by prowling the sprawling naval port's streets.

The predator, one of only 480 or so of the rare species left in their natural habitat, was caught after mothers expressed fears that it was too dangerous to walk their children to school.

The large tiger was spotted in the Pacific port city of Vladivostok by worried onlookers

The predator escaped from the incredibly remote Bilkin National Park in Siberia, pictured

During the animal's epic journey motorists reported its location to police in Shamora

The wild animal was sent to a 'rehabilitation centre' before being released in May into the wild in Bikin national park crammed with deer, seen as an ideal prey.

The experts believed they had found the perfect home for him, and one predicted: 'He'll stay there.'

They even made a video about his journey to his new fiefdom.

But now, precisely a year to the day since his last appearance in Vladivostok, this striped adventurer has stunned Russian wildlife specialists by returning to the city after a 450 miles trek covering almost the full length of Primosky region.

Wanderlust Vladik sustained himself on his epic journey by ambushing, killing and eating at least three black Himalayan bears and an unknown number of ungulates.

On his way he crossed a major motorway and also the world famous Trans-Siberian railway line.

Cheekily, he also skirted the fence of the same rehabilitation centre where he had been sent to cure his thirst for the city life.

The tiger - fitted since his capture last year with a satellite navigation tracking system on a collar - was monitored with increasing incredulity by naturalists on his escape from exile as he headed relentlessly back to Vladivostok.

After capturing the animal, wildlife experts examined the tiger before taking him home

The tiger was airlifted back to Siberia before being reintroduced to the wild

The tiger was returned to the remote Siberian park - this time with a radio transmitter fitted

His trip culminated in a visit to Yasnoe village close to the airport in the city, population 610,000, reported The Siberian Times.

When he was here last year, he was the first tiger for 40 years seen in the city environs even though the big cats are endemic to the Russian Far East.

This time, however, he has carefully shunned people and stayed away from most busy roads - at least so far.

Despite this, he allowed the wildlife specialists to fleetingly glimpse him before vanishing into the taiga once more.

Instead of venturing towards the city centre, he now appears to have other travel plans with two countries seen as possible destinations.

The most likely aim looks like China, but he could yet opt for North Korea -- which may not suit his free spirit.

Shortly after his return to the national park, the tiger appeared to be hunting successfully

Pavel Fomenko, head of WWF Russia in Amur region, said: 'The story of Vladik confirms that we still do not know much about tigers.

'We were all very worried about his fate, but now, most likely, he is where he was striving to get to.

'I really hope that he will find his home and everything will be fine.'

Fomenko said: 'We took Vladik 700 kilometres away to the Bikin national park - truly the best place for tigers to dwell.

'But he went back to Vladivostok, crossed the Trans-Siberian railway, overcame our terrible roads, and eventually now seems to have chosen China, and is going there.'

Observers don't rule our another twist to his tale.

Tiger expert Sergey Aramilev director of the Far Eastern department of the Amur Tiger centre, said: 'Where the predator is still moving is a mystery to us, but time will tell.'