Stamp block «125. Mykolaiv Zoo»

In 2026, Mykolaiv Zoo, one of the oldest in Europe, will celebrate the 125th anniversary of its founding. Its unique collection comprises over 400 species of animals (more than 3,000 individuals), of which around 190 are listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Amid Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, against a backdrop of constant shelling and danger, the Mykolaiv Zoo continues to operate and welcome visitors. Despite disruptions to water supply, electricity and funding, the staff have managed to preserve not only the zoo itself but also its unique collection of animals.

The commemorative postage block features residents of the Mykolaiv Zoo: the Rothschild’s giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi), the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), a polar bear (Ursus maritimus), a Cape hyrax (Procavia capensis) and Ukraine’s only snow leopard (Panthera uncia).

The designer of the issue is Ukrainian artist and illustrator Viktor Garkusha, a soldier with the call sign ‘Picasso’.