How parks in Moscow take care of flora and fauna

Professional zoologists and botanists carefully study, take into account and protect the flora and fauna of parks in Moscow, subordinated to the Moscow Department of Culture. This was reported on March 3 on portal of the Mayor Sergei Sobyanin in connection with the World Wildlife Day.

Moscow parks are a favorite vacation spot for residents and visitors of the capital. The vast natural territories of the city are home to a large number of animals, and there is a huge variety of plants.

Thus, specialists from the environmental education sector are studying biological diversity in the Tsaritsyno Nature Reserve. They arrange educational excursions, telling about the flora and fauna in order to arouse interest and instill respect for nature and its representatives. They also organize scientific research, hold various events and mutual visits of park greenhouse specialists in order to exchange experiences.

On the Golitsynsky Pond of Gorky Park, visitors can meet white swans and crested blackbirds. There is a special aviary next to the reservoir, where rabbits and diamond pheasants live. Wildlife is being monitored in the park, and artificial shelters are being set up for birds and bats. There are also bird houses, bat shelters, and squirrel feeders with fresh food. Nadezhda Chistyakova, a zoologist and graduate of the Biological faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University, is responsible for all this.

In the green area of Severnoye Tushino Park, guests can meet hedgehogs, weasels and foxes, as well as rare birds, including partridges, long-eared owls, kestrels and yellow wagtails. Employees pay great attention to nature protection. Since 2023, the Wildlife in the Park project has also been implemented in the park, in which specialists take care of rare representatives of flora and fauna, as well as save trees with damage and defects.

The Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve is home to 542 plant species, 37 of which are included in the Red Book of Moscow, including wild geranium, Fisher's carnation, goose onion and crested. There is also a preserved section of the relict oak grove, where the oldest trees grow — the age of the oaks reaches 400-600 years.

In the park along Olonetsky Passage along the banks of the Yauza River, you can see a bird area where peacocks, pheasants, guinea fowl, roosters, chickens and geese live. In 2024, Australian emus also appeared here. The park territory is considered a well-maintained and ecologically clean area for visitors. The birds are constantly being looked after by specialists, the animals always have fresh water and food and places where they can hide from visitors and relax.

Sokolniki Park is home to the sharp—faced and grass frogs listed in the Red Book, as well as the puffball, common vulcan, white-backed woodpecker, gray-eared owl, corncrake and kestrel. In addition, the park has unique plants, including Pennsylvania cherry, Amur lilac, Manchurian walnut, sweet violet, Siberian undergrowth. Specialists keep records of wild birds, take care of plants and monitor feeders.

March 3 — World Wildlife Day: history and traditions of the holiday

On February 4, the website of the Mayor's Office of the capital reported that 573 species of animals, plants and fungi are listed in the Red Book of Moscow. It was noted that the book contains measures to protect rare fauna and flora, as well as information about small species of birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates.