A Unique World park
The Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park protects the ecosystems of the Kuialnyk Estuary, which is not only a favorite destination for many people but also a vital area for biodiversity conservation. A large number of rare plant species grow here, and rare animal species live here that are listed in Ukraine’s Red Book and protected by international agreements. The park is part of the Emerald Network (Kuialnyk Lyman UA0000143), as the value of its ecosystems is recognized at the European level.
Kuialnyk Biodiversity
The park’s true treasure lies in its unique natural resources. The Kuialnyk Estuary, which forms part of the park, is renowned for its therapeutic mud, healing brine, and mineral waters, which have long been used for health and therapeutic purposes. In addition, the park is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, many of which are rare or endangered. The park is not just about nature. It preserves traces of ancient civilizations and landmarks that tell the story of this region’s rich history. It is a place where nature, history, and modernity harmoniously intertwine.
In the Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park, you can see 27 species of rare plants listed in Ukraine’s Red Book. These include species such as the reticulated crocus (Crocus reticulatus), several species of feather grass (Stipa pulcherrima, Stipa capillata, Stipa lessingiana), two species of pheasant’s eye (Adonis vernalis, Adonis wolgensis), and others. The park is home to a significant population of Gymnospermium odessanum, a paleoendemic species.
The Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park is home to a large number of rare animal species listed in Ukraine’s Red Book and protected under international agreements. All amphibian and reptile species in the park are protected by the Bern Convention. Among them, the Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), the Sarmatian whipsnake (Elaphe sauromates), and the green lizard (Lacerta viridis) are listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, while the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is protected under the European Red List. In the Kuyalnik National Nature Park, 13 mammal species are protected by the Red Book of Ukraine. Almost all of them are protected by the Bern Convention; among them, the gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius) and the pond bat (Myotis dasycneme) are also listed in the European Red List. All 9 bat species in the Park are protected under the Bonn Convention. Among the insect species protected by the Red Book of Ukraine, the following are found in the Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park: the steppe grasshopper (Saga pedo), the Ordos crimson moth (Catocala sponsa), the large saturnia (Saturnia pyri), the giant skoliid (Megascolia maculata), the polyxena (Zerynthia polyxena), and several others.