A rare Siberian tiger released into the wild by Russian President Vladimir Putin is keeping farmers in northeastern China on edge.

Xinhua News Agency said that the animal, named Ustin, attacked and killed 15 goats, and another three goats went missing on Sunday and Monday from a farm in Heilongjiang province's Fuyuan county.

The farm's owner, Guo Yulin, said he was stressed about the tiger, but he would be compensated by the local forestry department for the loss of the 18 goats.

According to Xinhua, Russian experts rescued five tiger cubs two years ago. Ustin was one of three released by Putin in May in a remote part of the Amur region, which straddles the border between far eastern Russia and northeastern China.

Two of the tigers entered China. They are fitted with tracking devices and are being monitored by Chinese wildlife protection workers.

The other tiger to enter China, Kuzya, is believed to have raided a farm and eaten five chickens in another Heilongjiang county last month.

Guo said he was alerted by a dog barking on Sunday night, but on checking he noticed nothing unusual. He said he awoke the next morning to find two goats dead and three others missing.

Xinhua said the goats' skulls had been crushed, and holes the size of a human finger were visible on each goat's head.

The farmer said the tiger returned the following night but made no noise.

"When I opened the goat house in the morning, dead goats were everywhere," Guo said.

Local experts found tiger footprints around the goat house and on its roof, Xinhua reported. Guo was asked to either relocate his goats or fortify his farm, it said.

(China Daily 11/28/2014 page5)