In a large park about two hours outside Moscow, hundreds of wild animals and birds live, rest and play — but this is no zoo.
Covering four hectares of land, the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center rehabilitates rescued animals in a calm, quiet environment with the goal of releasing them back into the wild or bringing them to a zoo where they can safely live out their final years. In order to limit the stress of human contact, the center isn’t open to visitors.
Many of the center’s residents have been rescued from the illegal exotic animal trade or were confiscated from businesses that were illegally using them for entertainment. Others were found injured and unable to survive in the wild on their own.
Here’s a look at the furry and feathered inhabitants who call the center home:
