A bronze figure of the mythical animal babre carrying a sable in its teeth has been set up in Irkutsk. Babre is the out-of-date name of the Siberian tiger.

      For over 200 years — since 1790 — it has been used as a heraldic figure is used in the emblems of Irkutsk, the Irkutsk Province, the Irkutsk Region and the Irkutsk District.

      The sculpture about four meters high was cast in Ulan-Ude.

      The creation of the bronze babre cost 8 million rubles, the money allocated from the budget of Irkutsk. The babre sculpture has been already set up on a small pedestal.

      A Decembrists’ memorial stone that stood there before will be shifted to another place.