Putin presents more than 70 animals to DPRK zoo

Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation Alexander Kozlov handed over 70 animals from the Moscow Zoo to the Central Zoo of Pyongyang as a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin. This was announced by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources on its official website on November 20.

"An African lion, two brown bears, two pet yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of different species, 40 mandarin ducks will now live in the North Korean zoo. The animals were delivered to Pyongyang by airplane, they were accompanied by veterinarians of the Moscow Zoo," the press service of the agency said.

According to Kozlov, all the animals will be kept decently and will quickly get used to them.

The minister of natural resources and ecology of the Russian Federation said that this is the opening of a new stage on cooperation between Russia and DPRK in the issues of rehabilitation, reintroduction, veterinary medicine and creation of aviary infrastructure.

"Sending animals to the capital of the DPRK will be a continuation of the previously set vector for the development of bilateral cooperation between the Moscow Zoo and the Central Zoo of Pyongyang," said Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.

It is emphasized that this is the first case of transfer of mammals to the DPRK.

The day before, November 19, DPRK leader Kim Jong-un held a meeting with Kozlov in Pyongyang. It is noted that Kozlov arrived to participate in a meeting of the intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific and technical cooperation.