The unique Askania-Nova reserve in the Kherson region has suffered devastating losses due to the actions of the Russian occupiers and has effectively ceased to exist. The head of the Kherson regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, according to [Kommersant]
According to the official, the occupiers not only hunted the animals of the reserve, but also carried out large-scale exports to the occupied Crimea and Russia.
“Yes, it’s true, they are destroying it. The last I heard, they were exporting animals to Crimea and Russia. So we can say that the reserve no longer exists. They have robbed it completely,”
– prokudin said.
The lost wildlife of Askania Nova
The Askania-Nova Biosphere Reserve named after F.E. Falz-Fein is a unique nature conservation area located in the Kherson region of Ukraine. Founded in 1898, it is the largest steppe reserve in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The total area of the reserve is more than 33 thousand hectares, of which 11 thousand hectares are absolutely protected.
“Before the Russian occupation, Askania Nova was famous for its rich fauna. The reserve was home to about 500 species of vertebrates, including 40 species of mammals and more than 270 species of birds. Among the most famous inhabitants are bison, kanna antelope, Przewalski’s horses, zebras, llamas, camels and various species of deer. Of particular value are rare and endangered species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, such as the steppe viper, blackbird, steppe crane and saiga.
The reserve’s birdlife is extremely diverse. Rare birds such as the South American nandu and the Australian emu could be seen here. Over 60 species of birds were kept at Askania Nova, including various types of swans, pheasants, ducks, storks, geese and ostriches. The reserve is also an important stopover point for many migratory bird species.
In addition to wild animals, the reserve has successfully carried out acclimatisation and breeding of rare species. The Askania Nova Zoo kept about 800 species of wild ungulates and their hybrid forms.
The reserve’s flora is no less impressive than its fauna. More than 500 species of vascular plants representing a unique steppe ecosystem have been registered on the reserve’s territory. Among them are 20 species listed in the Red Book of Ukraine. Of particular value are various types of feather grass, which are a symbol of the Ukrainian steppe, including Ukrainian feather grass, Lessing’s feather grass and hairy feather grass. The reserve is famous for rare species such as Schrenk’s tulip, dwarf cockscomb, woolly-flowered astragalus and feather grass wheatgrass. The reserve’s botanical garden, founded in 1887, contains a collection of more than 1,000 species of trees and shrubs from around the world.
Plants are harder to take out than animals, so it is hoped that the flora will be much better preserved than the fauna before the reserve is liberated from occupation.
Thus, the reserve was not only a nature conservation area, but also an important research centre for the study and conservation of biodiversity in steppe ecosystems.
An incomplete list of rare animals inhabiting the reserve
Amphibians
- Green toad.
- Lake frog.
Reptiles
- Nimble lizard.
- The common snake.
- The water snake.
- Common copperhead.
- Yellow-bellied skink.
- Sarmatian snake.
- Steppe viper.
Mammals
- Fox.
- Grey hare.
- Steppe polecat.
- Stone marten.
- Steppe marmot.
- Small polecat.
- Large polecat.
- Common pika.
- Common hamster.
- Grey hamster.
- Group vole.
- Red-bellied vole (bat).
- Dwarf nuthatch (bat).
- Two-coloured lily (bat).
- Lesser white-toothed bat.
- Wolf (irregularly).
- European chamois (irregularly).
- Red deer (irregularly).
- Wild pig (irregularly).
In addition, there are about 1160 species of arthropods and more than 270 species of birds, of which 107 species nest in the reserve.
Occupation
The Russians occupied the Kherson region of Ukraine during the first week of the full-scale invasion, and the Askania-Nova reserve was occupied along with it. At the same time, the Ukrainian administration of the reserve operated there for another year. Thanks to charitable donations from Ukrainians, as well as financial assistance from Western partners, Ukrainian employees managed to ensure the reserve’s vital activity.
on 20 March 2023, new representatives of the occupation authorities arrived on the territory of the reserve and the Ukrainian administration ceased its work. Since then, the Russians have been in full control of the reserve.
