On October 8 in Kharkiv in the Feldman Ecopark the Chrysanthemum Ball will be held.
Fortunately, this holiday of beauty became already traditional and every year tens of thousands of Kharkiv citizens hurry to see this charm. Not to mention friends or relatives coming from other cities and countries at this time, we surely carry them here to present unforgettable impressions of a meeting with the beautiful. Feldman Ecopark already became one of Kharkiv’s hallmarks and enters the obligatory program of visits for the city guests. About one million visitors a year — the number which causes envy in many local parks, not to mention the zoos of Ukraine.
— Not you afraid of the competition from the Kharkiv zoo which will also become free after reconstruction? The city authorities promise that it will be the best in Ukraine and one of the best in Europe — one of our journalists asked Oleksandr Feldman on the presentation of the Chrysanthemum Ball exposition.
— Let’s clarify at the start; we won’t compare our Ecopark and the Kharkiv zoo especially in categories of the competition and competitive spirit. There can’t be leaders or outsiders in this situation. Moreover, we don’t compete with anybody. I think, the zoo is far from it too. Of course, we as well as the Kharkiv zoo have one of the largest collections of animals in Ukraine. But the Ecopark is not only or maybe not so much a zoo. It is the big social humanitarian project, a multipurpose complex. These are 30 projects and the directions: the Research Center, the Children’s Center of Education and Creativity, more than four hundred young naturalists are constantly engaged in the activities. The Ecopark is the sport base, the Horse Club which is visited by 250 children. Today, when free circles and sections for children practically disappeared, it is very important to support children in their aspiration and desire to do something you love. It is at least important “to take away” children from the street, providing them platforms for creativity and development. Our same-name project is being held for years. And, believe me, it yields the results.
We pay a maximum of our attention to the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults. The Service for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 15 thousand rescued animals in 5 years. All that’s to say: I am not afraid of the competition in these questions. I welcome it — Oleksandr Feldman answered. — The more comfortable, beautiful, substantial resting places in Kharkiv and region will be the better. The more projects directed to support of a healthy lifestyle, preserving and studying of the nature, rehabilitation of children and adults who need it will be the quicker we will gain the opportunity to become really European city in the attention and the attitude towards people.
Moreover, every effort must be made in providing free park areas and resting places for people. The “closed” beauty and elite clubs enclosed with five-meter fences is vestige of the past. Therefore I sincerely wish the Kharkiv zoo to realize the planned. They provided really interesting modern project of reconstruction of a zoo at a recent Conference of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums in Belfast. Not without reasons speak that the level of civilization of a society can be measured by a condition of the state and municipal zoos. Zoos, resting places – this is a kind of test on human development.
— Did your Ecopark participate in this conference?
— Yes, we participated in it. We received the status of the alternate member of Association in the spring of this year. It is honorable for us, and, of course, this recognition from professionals brings with it great responsibility. The team of the Ecopark provided several projects in Belfast. By the way, one of them — the project of complex zoo development which is included into structure of our general complex. We have 25 international partners to date and professional communication with them is always very important for us.
— The representatives of city governments reported that Kharkiv will submit the application for holding an annual congress of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2020. What do you think of this initiative?
— You ask a question with the obvious answer. Certainly, I treat it positively. How else could I treat it? Kharkiv is worthy to accept actions of the highest European level and rank. We have something to show and to share. Alas, our city and region aren’t so well-known and «pinned-up” abroad. “To break” it — a general task of the authorities, business, and civil sector. Here we shall learn the competition for attention to our city and the region with other cities of Ukraine, but not with each other.
