Screenshot from a video clip taken on May 18, 2021 shows that a rare wild Siberian tiger was successfully released back into the wild in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.(Photo:Xinhua)

A Siberian tiger that once attacked a woman in China, and was captured and released into the wild not far from the Russian border, was again spotted in a forest next to a township with 40,000 residents in Northeast China's Jilin Province.

The Tianqiaoling Forestry Bureau said on Thursday that this was the second time the bureau had detected traces of the tiger wandering near the town since May, after it was released in Muling, Heilongjiang Province, over 200 kilometers from Tianqiaoling. 

After being discharged into the wild on May 18, the tiger named Wandashan No.1 - whose age is estimated at 2 or 3 years - was soon spotted by a satellite positioning system on May 25. It was randomly walking around the national park's management office in Tianqiaoling, but it then left, with no human harmed.

The local government has warned residents to stay in groups when walking in the forest, and to carry tools in case they bump into the tiger.

In order to deter poaching, the government announced a hotline for the public, for anyone to report to the forest police in case there is any trace of poachers.

The local staff members and police also formed search teams to clear out hunting traps or power grids in the forest to avoid causing any injuries to the tiger.

In April, the tiger attacked a woman who was working in a farm in Heilongjiang, and then hit a passing car. It was captured by the Heilongjiang Forestry and Grassland Bureau after it entered a village.

The "trespasser" was released with a collar to trace its location and hunting grounds, and to avoid contact with humans.

With protection efforts in the past few years, the number of wild Siberian tigers has increased in Northeast China. However, this has affected some residents, Sun Quanhui, a scientist from World Animal Protection, told the Global Times.

A total of 55 wild Siberian tigers were spotted between 2013 and 2018 via infrared cameras installed in four major forested landscapes suitable for Siberian tigers in Northeast China, read a report published by the Northeast Forestry University and some global organizations in July.

There are 500 to 550 wild Siberian tigers in the world, mainly scattered in eastern Russia, Northeast China and the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, the Xinhua News Agency reported in April. 

Sun added that the population of Siberian tigers in Russia is "close to saturation." 

"It is expected that Siberian tigers will enter our country, and more will be spotted in the future," Sun said.