Researchers and some animals from the biosphere reserve «Askania-Nova», currently under occupation in Kherson, are set to relocate to the Borodynska community in the Bolhrad district. This will create a new tourist attraction in the Odesa region.

Discussions are underway to allocate 70 hectares of land within the Borodynska community for research purposes, where specialists from «Askania-Nova» will work. Local residents will be employed, generating additional job opportunities. This was reported by «Bessarabia INFORM».

Community head Ivan Kyusse mentioned that preliminary meetings with reserve director Viktor Shapoval have already taken place.

«We have agreed to find a suitable area to establish a unit to preserve unique animal species and provide jobs for scientists,» – noted Ivan Kyusse.

On June 10, the Budzhak village council plans to adopt a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Borodynska community, the biosphere reserve «Askania-Nova», and the NGO «Rewilding Ukraine».

On the same day, they will discuss the allocation of 70 hectares of land for relocation.

Reference OZh

The biosphere reserve «Askania-Nova» named after Friedrich Falz-Fein is the oldest reserve in Ukraine, located in Kherson (temporarily occupied since February 24, 2022). It hosts the largest wild steppe in Europe.

The local zoo is home to animals from savannas, deserts, steppes, and mountainous areas, as well as rare steppe birds: the Swainson's pheasant, steppe and gray cranes, steppe eagle, and black vulture. Most of these species are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine.