On February 23, Ruslana Dzhahman and Mykhailo Bilanych, researchers from the Nature Branch and experts from the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe, led an educational tour of the “Nature of Transcarpathia” exhibition at the Transcarpathian Regional Museum of Local Lore named after T. Lehotsky for students from Uzhhorod Gymnasium No. 13.

During the tour, the students had the opportunity to explore the diverse species of wildlife found in the Carpathian region. They discovered that wild cats in nature are larger than domestic cats. Mrs. Dzhahman pointed out the differences between a common gull and a black-headed gull, which are often mistaken for each other. The experts highlighted the importance of amphibians and reptiles in nature and human ecosystems, dispelling negative attitudes towards these animals. They emphasized that some reptiles are endangered and protected by the Red Book of Ukraine, urging the students to protect them instead of harming them.

The children also enjoyed interactive activities during the tour, such as comparing their height to the length of an Aesculapian snake, measuring their arm span against the wingspan of a golden eagle, and participating in the “Life in a Tree” game. Furthermore, the students had the opportunity to observe rare bird species such as the black stork, the Eurasian griffon vulture, the short-toed snake eagle, and the osprey, which are not frequently seen in Transcarpathia. The exhibition also featured the flora of the Carpathian Mountains, including iconic plants like the edelweiss, the Carpathian rhododendron, the common rue, and other fascinating botanical specimens.

The event was held within the framework of cooperation between the Interreligious and Civil Environmental Forum of Eastern Europe (IRCEF) headed by Olexander Bokotey) and the German Nature Conservation Union (NABU Bundesverband, NABU International), project coordinators  Ivan Tymofeiev (NABU), and Nataliya Kulya (IRCEF).

Ruslana Dzhahman, researcher of the Nature Branch of the Transcarpathian Regional Museum of Local Lore and IRCEF environmental activist