By 1808Delaware
A journey spanning more than 6,000 miles and involving two years of international coordination has brought one of the world’s most endangered big cats to central Ohio.
Sarang, a 4-year-old female Amur tiger, arrived at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium on July 16 following her transfer from Seoul Zoo in South Korea. Her relocation is part of a global effort to preserve a genetically healthy population of Amur tigers and strengthen the species’ prospects for survival. The move required cooperation among zoological institutions, wildlife authorities, veterinarians and transportation specialists in South Korea and the United States.
Two years of preparation
Sarang’s transfer was recommended in 2023 through the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Global Species Management Plan for Amur tigers. Both the Columbus Zoo and Seoul Zoo participate in the international program, which coordinates the management of endangered species living in professional care. Sarang’s arrival also supports the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ Amur Tiger Species Survival Plan, which develops breeding and transfer recommendations among accredited zoos.
Before Sarang could leave Seoul, the participating organizations had to complete an extensive series of veterinary reviews, permits, logistical arrangements and transportation plans.
“We’re grateful to our partners at the Seoul Zoo for entrusting Sarang to our care and to WAZA and AZA for the years of collaboration that made her arrival possible,” Columbus Zoo President and CEO Tom Schmid said.
Schmid said protecting Amur tigers requires a commitment that extends beyond any individual zoo or country.
“We’re proud to be part of a global community working together to advance the long-term conservation of Amur tigers,” he said.
Seoul Zoo Director Park Jin-soon described Sarang’s relocation as a meaningful contribution to the protection of an internationally endangered species.
“We hope Sarang’s transfer to the United States will serve as an important milestone in securing a successful future for the Amur tiger,” Park said.
A carefully managed trip
Transporting a tiger internationally involves far more than securing space on an airplane. It’s not your typical trip. DHL Express coordinated the time-sensitive journey from South Korea to Ohio, working with the two zoos to reduce travel time and maintain appropriate animal-care standards throughout the trip.
Members of the Columbus Zoo team accompanied Sarang during the journey and monitored her wellbeing as she traveled between continents.
“Moving an animal like Sarang requires much more than transportation,” DHL Express Americas Senior Vice President of Operations Laurice Bancroft said. “It requires careful planning, close collaboration and the expertise of our international network.”
After arriving in Columbus, Sarang began a routine quarantine and acclimation period under the supervision of the zoo’s Animal Care and Conservation Medicine teams. She will be allowed to adjust to her new surroundings at her own pace before moving into her public habitat. The zoo has not yet announced when visitors may have an opportunity to see her.
Three young tigers in Columbus
Sarang joins Lewis and Clark, two male Amur tiger brothers who arrived at the Columbus Zoo earlier in 2026 through the Species Survival Plan. The brothers, now just over 2 years old, have continued to thrive under the care of the zoo’s animal-care staff.
Their arrival and Sarang’s transfer are part of coordinated population-management recommendations intended to preserve genetic diversity among Amur tigers living in accredited zoos. Those carefully planned populations can support research, education and broader conservation work while helping prevent the species from disappearing entirely.
Built for the cold, threatened in the wild
Amur tigers, also commonly called Siberian tigers, are the largest of the world’s tiger subspecies. They are also the only living tiger subspecies adapted to survive in cold regions with long, snowy winters. Their remaining wild range includes portions of the Russian Far East and northeastern China.
Despite international protections, the animals continue to face habitat loss, poaching and conflict with people. The species is listed under Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the highest level of international protection provided under the agreement. Only an estimated 500 Amur tigers remain in the wild. That limited population makes cooperation among conservation organizations increasingly important. Through coordinated breeding, scientific research, professional animal care and habitat-protection efforts, participating institutions are working to preserve a future for the species.
For Sarang, that international effort has now brought her from Seoul to Columbus, where her arrival represents both a new chapter for the zoo and another carefully planned step in the fight to save one of the world’s rarest big cats.
