The Askania Nova Biosphere Reserve was founded in the late 19th century by hereditary nobleman, scientist-zoologist F. Falz-Fein. This is a unique place where natural and man-made features are in balance; it is the result of many years of hard work, will and creativity of people.
The Reserve territory is home of a fescue-feather grass steppe, an arboretum, where woody plants are grown in an arid waterless environment, and a zoological park, where most of the animals live year-round in free and semi-free conditions.
Perennial dense-grasses and mixed fodder grasses predominate in this protected area; the flora of flowering plants consists of 505 species. The most widely spread species in the fauna are arthropods (1,309 species), besides, more than 1,109 species of insects have been registered with 19 of them being included in the Red Book and protection lists of the Russian Federation. The ornithological fauna is diverse, based on a bustard, a steppe kestrel, a bunting, a ruddy sheld duck, a sheld duck, a Montahu’s harrier and a short-eared owl. There are 22 species of mammals, including a steppe polecat, a badger, a steppe sicista, and a great jerboa.
The postage stamp provide images of a steppe kestrel.
