OREANDA-NEWS Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov handed over a gift from Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Central Zoo of Pyongyang - more than 70 animals, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment said in a statement.

"Historically, animals have occupied an important place in interstate relations, they were given as a sign of support, kindness, and care. Today I am presenting the Korean comrades with a gift from Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to the Pyongyang Zoo. We have transferred more than 70 individuals," Kozlov said in a video from the ministry's press service.

The press service said that an African lion, two brown bears, two domestic yaks, five white cockatoos, 25 pheasants of various species and 40 mandarin ducks moved from the Moscow Zoo to the Pyongyang Zoo.

The head of the Ministry of Natural Resources recalled that the Moscow and Pyongyang zoos have been cooperating for more than 13 years. The minister noted that the transferred individuals are young and can give offspring, "and the Pyongyang Zoo needed it so much."

The Central Zoo of Pyongyang has been operating since 1959, it is home to both species of animals familiar to Korea and exotic ones, such as elephants, hippos and giraffes. The transfer of animals from Russia became possible due to the entry of the Pyongyang Zoo into the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA), the report said.

Since 2018, Kozlov has been co-chairman of the intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation between the Russian Federation and the DPRK from the Russian side. As reported, the 11th meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held in Pyongyang on November 18-19.