On August 8, four stamps dedicated to the Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve were put into postal circulation in the Natural Heritage of Russia series

The Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve was founded in the late 19th century by hereditary nobleman, scientist-zoologist F. Falz-Fein. This is a unique place where natural and man-made features are in balance; it is the result of many years of hard work, will and creativity of people.

The Reserve territory is home of a fescue-feather grass steppe, an arboretum, where woody plants are grown in an arid waterless environment, and a zoological park, where most of the animals live year-round in free and semi-free conditions.

Perennial firm-bunch grasses and mixed fodder grasses predominate in this protected area; the flora of flowering plants consists of 505 species. The most widely spread species in the fauna are arthropods (1,309 species), besides, more than 1,109 species of insects have been registered with 19 of them being included in the Red Book and protection lists of the Russian Federation. The ornithological fauna is diverse, based on a bustard, a steppe kestrel, a bunting, a ruddy sheld duck, a sheld duck, a Montahu’s harrier and a short-eared owl. There are 22 species of mammals, including a steppe polecat, a badger, a steppe sicista, and a great jerboa.

On the territory of the reserve, there is located the great Chapel pod, a unique depression of relief periodically filled with melt water. This area is home to a variety of flowering plants, wild ungulates - bison, saigas, Turkmen wild asses, donkeys, dappled deer, mouflons, canna antelopes and zebras.

The Reserve is of exceptional value from the point of view of science and nature conservation. Long-term studies of natural processes and phenomena, mechanisms of adaptation of wild animals to the conditions of southern regions under semi-wild confinement are under way here, as well as plant introduction and improvement of methods of preservation of rare species are carried out.

The postage stamps provide images of a bustard, a steppe polecat, an east steppe viper and a steppe kestrel.

In addition to the issue of the postage stamps, JSC Marka produced First Day Covers and special cancels for Moscow and Askania Nova of the Kherson Region, as well as maxi-cards and an illustrated cover with postage stamps, a label and a First Day Covers with a cancel for Askania Nova of the Kherson Region inside.


Artist: Kh. Mirzoev; Design: O. Savina.
Face value: 31 rubles.
Stamp size: 36.5×29 mm, sheet size: 100×150 mm.
Emission form: a sheet with formatted margins with 8 (2×4) stamps.
Quantity: 62 thousand each stamp (31 sheets).

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