According to the local report, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly gifted over 70 animals, including lions and brown bears, to the Pyongyang Zoo in North Korea.
The TASS news agency reported on Wednesday that, according to a press release from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, Minister Alexander Kozlov has ordered the transfer of over 70 animals from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Central Zoo. The report noted that this gesture is a gift from Vladimir Putin to the Korean people.
“An African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white … will now live in the North Korean zoo,” it explained.
While a delegation from the Moscow Zoo had previously visited North Korea in April to donate animals, including eagles, to the Central Zoo, Kozlov emphasized that this marks the first time Russia has sent female lions, bears, and yaks to North Korea.
Kozlov mentioned, “Now the animals are being quarantined and will be moved to enclosures after the acclimatization period. … I am confident that these animals will receive proper care and will adapt quickly to their new environment.”
Russia and North Korea showcase their close ties via frequent animal exchange. In August, Putin exported 24 Orlov Trotter horses, known to be favorites of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. In return, Kim gifted Putin two Pungsan dogs.
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