White bear with a mace and a giraffe in a hat — on the new stamp of Mykolaiv Zoo

September 12 in Mykolaiv saw the presentation of the jubilee postal block “125. Mykolaiv Zoo”. Its author was the well-known Ukrainian illustrator and serviceman Viktor Harkusha with the call sign “Picasso”.

The stamp features a giraffe in a hat, a maned wolf with a monocle, a polar bear with a hetman’s mace, a Cape rock hyrax and the only snow leopard in Ukraine. In the center of the composition the artist placed the gates of the Mykolaiv Zoo with the Ukrainian flag.

“Each stamp is a symbol of the resilience and uniqueness of the Mykolaiv Zoo,” the organizers emphasized.

The presentation was timed to coincide with the celebration of Mykolaiv City Day. The special cancellation ceremony took place in the summer courtyard of the Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theater.

The special cancellation was attended by:

• Acting Head of the Mykolaiv Regional Military Administration, Heorhii Reshetilov;
• Chairman of the Mykolaiv Regional Council, Anton Tabunshchyk;
• Mayor of Mykolaiv, Oleksandr Sienkevych;
• Head of the Office of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Denmark in Mykolaiv, Jakob Torild Hansen;
• Director of the Mykolaiv Zoo, Volodymyr Topchiy — Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine and President of the Ukrainian Association of Zoos and Aquariums;
• Territorial manager of the joint-stock company “Ukrposhta”, Olena Skiba.

The zoo’s history began in 1901 with the collection of the city mayor Mykola Leontovych. Over 125 years the institution has become one of the most famous zoos in Ukraine.

During shelling in 2022, eight rocket projectiles fell on the zoo grounds, but none of them exploded. Despite the difficulties, the institution did not cease operations and became a place of support for residents of the frontline city.

The print run of the postal block is 40,000 copies. Also issued were 15,000 “First Day” envelopes and 300 presentation folders. The release can be purchased at “Ukrposhta” branches, specialized stores and online.

Children will be able to visit the Mykolaiv Zoo free of charge.

Earlier we wrote:

• No mass celebrations: Mykolaiv turned 237 years old
• Children under 14 in Mykolaiv will be able to visit the zoo for free
• Animals of the Mykolaiv Zoo survived the attack on “Epicenter” unharmed
• Mykolaiv Zoo received two Seychelles giant tortoises — an anniversary gift for its 125th anniversary
• Light from Lymany is now also on a stamp — Ruskyi Zadniy became a philatelic star!