Donetsk, Apr 18 — DAN. Mariupol Zoo has replenished its collection of animals with two pedigree camels delivered from Kalmykia, Zoo Director Savely Vashura told the Donetsk News Agency.

“We were apprehensive during the trip because of the windy and rainy weather there. The loading took time; it was quite difficult. Then we brought them here and disembarked, ” Vashura said. “The animals are OK, though somewhat wild; a boy and a girl, two years old.  I believe they’ll begin to have babies in three years. ”

Mairupol Zoo received certificates for the camels earlier on Tuesday from Kalmykia delegation representatives. The animals are now getting used the new place and their caretakers, he added.

The prewar Zoo had five camels; they were killed by exploding projectiles as the fighting broke out in the city.

Mariupol Zoo is a private organization. It was established in Sartana in 2009 and initially featured a collection of birds.  In 2016, it moved to Mariupol. The Zoo sprawls on an area of 3.5 hectares. It had leopards, lions, tigers, bears, wolves, dogs, foxes, silver foxes, donkeys, camels, deer and does, peacocks, cranes, storks, ostriches, quails, pelicans, squirrels and river rats. Artillery strikes damaged animal enclosures in the spring of 2022 killing one cheetah, five camels, three llamas, five ostriches and as many monkeys.*jk