Russia transferred more than 70 animals, including an African lion and two brown bears, from a Moscow zoo to a zoo in the North Korean capital Pyongyang, the Russian government said on Wednesday, the 20th of November, reports Reuters.
The animals were “a gift from (Russian President) Vladimir Putin to the Korean people”, the government said.
Russian Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov oversaw the transfer of the animals, which were transported by plane to Pyongyang’s Central Zoo in the company of veterinarians from Moscow Zoo.
Pictures released by the Russian government showed various animals travelling in cages and Kozlov being shown around the Korean zoo by local officials.
After North Korean troops were sent to Russia, Putin gifted over 70 animals from the Moscow zoo to North Korea.
Bears, lions, yaks and birds were sent to Pyongyang zoo.
“This is Vladimir Putin’s gift to Korean people,” North Korean authorities commented. pic.twitter.com/7VL94MaEux
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) November 20, 2024
In April, Russia donated birds, including eagles, cranes and parrots, to the Pyongyang Central Zoo.
Pyongyang and Moscow have forged closer ties since Putin visited the country in June and signed a treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
Kim gifted Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, a local breed, during that trip. The two also took turns driving each other around in a Russian-made Aurus limousine.