VIDEO: A tiger steals a hidden camera literally carrying it off in its jaws in Russia

Surveillance cameras at the Tiger Land Reserve in Russia’s Primorsky Krai captured a remarkable moment when an Amur tiger stole a hidden camera used to monitor wildlife.

According to reserve officials, the incident was discovered during a routine check when employees noticed that one of the cameras was missing. Only its strap was found at the site. The identity of the thief—a wild tiger—was not revealed until footage from a nearby camera was reviewed.

In a statement issued by the reserve administration, it was confirmed:

“After reviewing footage from the opposite camera, employees were able to determine that the camera had ended up in the claws of an Amur tiger. The night video shows the tiger holding the camera in its teeth while the device continues to record the scene.”

Victor Storozhuk, a member of the reserve’s research department, noted that efforts to recover the stolen camera were unsuccessful and that the device disappeared along with its recordings.

He added that this is not the first incident of its kind. Over the past few years, wild animals have stolen six hidden surveillance cameras from the reserve.