A camera trap photo of Amur tigers (Svetlaya, a female on the left, and Borya) who were originally orphaned in the wild in two unrelated events. After rehabilitation the two were eventually released back to the wild. Never introduced in captivity and released 300km apart, Borya wandered for a year and a half before arriving in Svetlaya’s home range. He has never left. Scientists are hopeful the romance will result in cubs, a key ingredient to recovering tigers in a region which, prior to the arrival of Borya and Svetlaya, had not had permanent resident tigers for over 40 years.

Photograph: IFAW/WCS