The 151st vehicle for Ukraine’s protected areas

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Vyzhnytskyi National Nature Park has been left without its own transport. This meant limited capacity for patrolling more than 11,000 hectares, conducting scientific fieldwork, and — most critically — for rapid response to emergencies such as illegal logging, fires, or natural disasters.

On September 25, Michael Brombacher, Head of European Programmes at the Frankfurt Zoological Society, handed over the keys to a brand-new Renault Duster 2025 to the park. At present, this is the only vehicle available for its operations.

“We have been cooperating with the Frankfurt Zoological Society for many years, and their support is hard to overestimate. They not only continued to help after the start of the full-scale invasion but also stepped in swiftly at the most difficult moment — and they keep doing so. Even this single vehicle is of critical importance to us, as the four cars previously donated by FZS were requisitioned for the needs of the army,” said Halyna Marchuk, Director of Vyzhnytskyi National Nature Park.

At the same time, the park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest in Ukraine.

In autumn 2024, the national parks of Cheremoskyi, Hutsulshchyna, Zacharovanyi Krai, and Skolivski Beskydy received five vehicles and ten motorbikes from the Frankfurt Zoological Society. These vehicles are actively used for scientific research, patrolling, tourism management, and other essential tasks. Special focus is placed on biodiversity monitoring and protection, safeguarding wildlife, and conserving natural ecosystems.