Przewalski's horses, bison and deer: Russian Federation exports from "Askania-new" rare animals

According to the director of the reserve Viktor Shapoval, the question is not even in the plane of the equivalence of the so -called "exchange", because the rare species of animals from the Red Book are taken out, and they are imported, "domesticated". During the period of temporary occupation of the territory of the Kherson region from the Biosphere Reserve "Askania-Nova" them.

Falz-Fein was illegally exported by rare animals, and instead imported "in exchange" common or "domesticated" species of animals. The director of the reserve Viktor Shapoval told the information agency "Ukrinform" on April 24.

He specified that the occupation administration of the reserve, since December 1, 2023, made the so-called "exchange" of animals from the Biosphere Park "Askania-Nova" with the State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Rostov" and the Association for the preservation and restoration The wildlife of the steppe ", located in the Rostov region.

According to Shapoval, 10 rare animals were taken out, including Przewalski horses, Chapman zebra, American bison, deer David, one of which was killed during the move. At the same time, the Askanian zoo was brought to males of Kanna antelopes, two -ripped camels, a male Guanako, females and goats and Kamori, Vietnamese pigs, dwarf rams, pelicans and drohv.

In addition, the current director of the Askania-Nova Reserve spoke about the last so-called "Exchange" when the director of the collaborator of the private Yalta Zoo "Fairy Tale" and the Lion Park "Thaigan" Oleg Zubkov removed rare animals in April this year. Shapoval stressed that the issue is not even in the plane of equivalence.

"These are illegal actions regardless of benefit! But it should be understood that rare wild species of animals with security status exchange for common domesticated species," he said. He reminded that, for example, Przhevalsky's horses from Askania-Nova Reserve were included in the International Breeding Book, and the zoo itself is a participant in the European Program for the preservation of endangered animal species (EER).

The same provisions apply to other exported rare animals that are endangered and included in the IUCC red list. The current director of the reserve emphasizes that such actions to exchange animals are a gross violation of the Sites Convention ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament. Recall that the stay of Russian troops in the territory of "Askania Nova" caused numerous fires and losses of the environment. During the occupation of the reserve, at least 7 fires occurred in the territory.