MOSCOW, RUSSIA: You've seen Vladimir Putin the bomber pilot, judo expert and fisherman - but tiger tamer?

Russian media, known for hero-worshipping the prime minister and former president, reported on September 1st that Putin fired a tranquilizer dart at a tiger that got loose during a photo-op at a wildlife sanctuary on August 31st.

According to Interfax news agency, a camera crew from state TV channel Vesti realised the five-year-old tiger had become untied, whereupon Putin leapt into action.

"Thanks to the agile and timely action the tiger was immobilised," Interfax said.

Photos released by state news agency RIA Novosti showed Putin next to a sleeping tiger and holding a gun used to fire tranquiliser darts.

Interfax said Putin kissed the big cat and said "goodbye."

He was visiting the Ussuriisky Nature Reserve in the far east of Russia to see how conservation experts track and study tigers.

The state media carefully honed Putin's tough-guy image during his eight-year presidency, notably in a photo session last year where the diminutive, fitness-mad leader posed bare-chested with fishing rods and rifles.