Biodiversity
Kuialnytskyi NNP
Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park protects the ecosystems of the Kuialnyk Estuary, which are not only a favorite place for many people but also an important area for biodiversity conservation. The park is home to many rare plant species and rare animals listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and protected by international agreements. The park is part of the Emerald Network (Kuialnytskyi Lyman UA0000143) because its ecosystems are recognized as valuable at the European level.
A true treasure of the park is its unique natural resources. Kuialnyk Estuary, which is part of the park, is famous for its healing mud, therapeutic sapropel, and mineral waters that have long been used for health treatments. In addition, the park is home to a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna, many species of which are rare or endangered. The park is not only about nature — it also preserves traces of ancient civilizations and monuments that tell the rich history of the region. It is a place where nature, history, and the present harmoniously intertwine.
Within Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park, you can find 27 species of rare plants listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine.
These include species such as Crocus reticulatus (netted saffron), several feather grass species (Stipa pulcherrima, Stipa capillata, Stipa lessingiana), two species of Adonis (Adonis vernalis, Adonis wolgensis), and others. The park hosts a significant population of Gymnospermium odessanum (Odessa adder’s tongue), which is a paleoendemic species.
Kuialnytskyi National Nature Park is home to many rare animal species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and protected under international agreements. All amphibians and reptiles 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 Data Book of Ukraine, while the European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is protected under the European Red List. The park has 13 mammal species protected by the Red Data Book of Ukraine. Almost all of them are also protected by the Bern Convention, including the gray hamster (Cricetulus migratorius) and the pond bat (Myotis dasycneme), which are also listed in the European Red List. All nine bat species found in the park are protected by the Bonn Convention. Among the insect species protected by the Red Data Book of Ukraine and present in the park are the steppe wart-biter (Saga pedo), the rosy underwing moth (Catocala sponsa), the giant peacock moth (Saturnia pyri), the giant scoliid wasp (Megascolia maculata), the southern festoon butterfly (Zerynthia polyxena), and several others.
Biodiversity research, population assessment, species distribution studies, and ecological monitoring of flora and fauna are carried out within the framework of the “Chronicle of Nature” program.
