Mute swan

Life span: 15-20 years.Favourite food: aquatic plants, grains, seeds, insects and small animals, molluscs and crustaceans.
● Unlike other species of swans, which make loud sounds, the mute swan does not usually sing, but emits a dull hiss when it feels threatened.● The bird's wingspan reaches 2.4 metres, and its weight is up to 15 kg. Due to their weight, swans cannot take off from a standing position — they need to run up to get airborne.● Swans have a uropygial gland that secretes oil to lubricate their feathers. This allows them to swim for hours without getting wet.● A single swan has approximately 25,000 feathers, which it constantly cleans with its beak and twists in a mirror pattern to maintain aerodynamics.● Although swans get most of their food in shallow water, they sometimes dive for aquatic plants, but not deeper than 1 metre.● Mute swans mate for life. If one of the birds dies, the other may remain alone for the rest of its life or search for a new partner for a long time.
Lake for the rehabilitation of mute swans
A rehabilitation centre for mute swans has been operating in the park for more than eight years. They are mainly located on a 10-11 hectare golf course, which provides access to four large reservoirs and is adjacent to a migration route along the park.
Most birds end up in the park after being injured by man-made landscapes, such as power lines, high-rise buildings, vehicles, and more.
Some birds are in this rehabilitation centre because of human negligence. One of the most common diseases among mute swans is ‘angel wing,’ which is caused by a protein metabolism disorder. The high probability of this disease is caused by prolonged feeding of the animals with bread, which is not a natural component of the diet of these birds.

Spotted deer, Japanese deer

Life span: 15-18 years.
● In summer, it has reddish-brown fur with white spots, in winter it darkens, and the spots may disappear or become less noticeable.● In the city of Nara, they are considered messengers of the gods. There, they roam freely through the streets and parks and are protected by law.● Antlers — like those of a red deer: large, branched antlers that are shed and regrown every year.● Sika deer have been successfully introduced to many countries — they have taken root in Great Britain, France, the United States and even New Zealand.● The animals enjoy eating fallen leaves, acorns, beech nuts, nuts and mushrooms.● Due to their beautiful appearance, Japanese deer are called ‘flower deer’ in China.
A herd of spotted deer (Japanese) roams freely in the Mezhyhiria park-monument. They have adapted perfectly to both the artificially landscaped and wild areas of the park. They often come out to pose for people.

Common teal
(common duck)

Life span: 5-10 years.Favourite food: aquatic plants, grains, seeds, insects and small animals, molluscs and crustaceans.
● In 1758, naturalist Carl Linnaeus classified female and male mallards as different species in his Systema Naturae (10th edition). So if you also thought they were different ducks, that's okay.
● The wild teal is the ancestor of most domestic ducks (except the muscovy duck). The exact time of domestication is unknown, but ducks were definitely bred in Ancient Greece and Rome.
● The male (drake) has very bright plumage: a green metallic head, a white ‘collar’ on the neck, a grey body and a black tail with curled feathers. The female (duck) has brown-red, speckled plumage, which perfectly camouflages her in the grass.
● After the mating season, males lose their bright colours and acquire duller ‘equipment’ — this is called ‘eclipse plumage’ (protective plumage). In this form, they look more like females, which helps them hide better from predators. In autumn, the drakes regain their bright wedding attire.
● If a female is raising chicks and a predator appears nearby, she may pretend to be injured (broken wing) to distract the enemy from the nest.
● There are up to 8 million teals in Europe and 17–18 million in North America.
● It has been introduced (as an alien species) to South Africa, New Zealand (about 5 million) and south-eastern Australia, where it is considered an invasive species (one that disrupts the balance of local ecosystems).
● The chick hatches from the egg feathered, sighted and very independent, although it weighs only 25-38 grams. Within a few hours, it is ready to run, swim, dive and catch insects on its own.
● Chicks need protein for intensive growth, which is why 83.4% of their diet consists of animal feed. Bread and other carbohydrates slow down this process!

European roe deer

Origin: Europe, Asia Minor.
Life span: 15-20 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, fruits, berries and tree shoots.

● The colouring of does is the most variable among all deer. There are individuals that are pure white — albinos — and black — melanists — as well as all transitional types between these two extremes.
● When a fallow deer senses danger, it often performs a characteristic ‘jump-fall’ or ‘strobing’. This is a high, springy jump during which the animal arches its back while pushing off with all four legs, allowing it to quickly disappear.
● The European fallow deer has been introduced to many regions and has become established there, becoming a wild species in many countries, such as Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
● Fallow deer have well-developed vibrissae on their upper lip and chin - tactile organs in the form of long, springy hairs, similar to those of a cat.

European mouflon

Origin: Western Asia.
Life span: 12-15 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, leaves, may gnaw on tree bark.

● European mouflons began to be domesticated 10,000 years ago. This event marked the emergence of modern domestic sheep.
● Can reach speeds of up to 50 km/h.
● The horns of males are rounded like a bagel. They can reach up to 80 cm and continue to grow throughout their lives.
● They are adept at moving through mountains and rocks, where they escape from predators.
● In their natural habitat, male mouflons live separately. Ewes and lambs form flocks.

European roe deer

Origin: Europe.
Life span: 10-15 years in the wild.
Name: Bambi.

● Roe deer are very agile — they can run at speeds of up to 60 km/h and jump 6-10 metres in length.
● When in danger, they emit a short bark similar to that of a dog or suddenly bolt from the spot.
● They graze in the morning, evening and early night. During the day, especially in hot weather, they lie in thick grass.

Canna antelope

Origin: Central and Southern Africa.
Life span: 15-20 years in the wild.
Name: Eva.

● In Ancient Egypt, they were domesticated animals that were harnessed to ploughs and carts, and milked for milk.
● Attempts to domesticate kudu were made in the 20th century in Africa and in the Askania-Nova Nature Reserve.
● Kudu milk is very nutritious, containing 13% fat and much more sugar and protein than cow's milk.
● The kudu is the largest antelope in the world. Its Latin name is Taurotragus oryx, meaning ‘deer-goat’.
● They are calm animals, but can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h when necessary.
● When running, they make clicking sounds with their joints — this may serve as communication or a ‘signal’ for the herd.
● In hot weather, their body temperature rises by 7 degrees, allowing them to lose less moisture through perspiration.
● They can go without water for a long time, obtaining moisture from plants.

Domestic goat

Origin: first domesticated in Iran.
Life span: 10-12 years in the wild.
Name: Lucifer.

● All domestic goats are descended from the wild bezoar goat (Capra aegagrus), which inhabits the mountainous regions of the Middle East and Central Asia.
● The domestication of goats began approximately 10,000-11,000 years ago in what is now Iran, making them one of the first animals to be domesticated by humans. This happened even earlier than the domestication of sheep and cattle.
● Goats have horizontal pupils. This gives them a very wide field of vision (almost 320-340 degrees), allowing them to see predators without turning their heads.
● In many cultures, the goat is a symbol that can be associated with both stubbornness and fertility and vitality.
● ‘Scapegoat’ is a modern expression that symbolises a person who is blamed or held responsible for someone else's actions.
● When travelling by sea or land, goats and sheep were taken along to ensure access to fresh meat and milk.

African donkey

Origin: countries of the Horn of Africa (Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia).
Life expectancy: 25-25 years in the wild.

● In reality, donkeys are not stubborn. They simply have a highly developed instinct for self-preservation, and it is almost impossible to force them to do something they do not want to do.
● All domesticated donkeys belong to the African donkey species. Donkeys were the first animals used to transport goods.
● In Ancient Egypt, African donkeys were used in farming as early as 6,000 years ago. The number of donkeys was an indicator of wealth and status. Noble Egyptians had herds of over 1,000 animals.
● Donkey milk was used as a cosmetic product in ancient times. It was also consumed as food, along with sheep and camel milk.
● These animals are known for their loud braying, which can be heard from a distance of up to 2-3 kilometres!

Grey Ukrainian cattle

Origin: Ukraine.
Life span: 10-15 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, hay, silage and roughage.

● One of the oldest breeds of cattle in Ukraine. The breed is a natural domestic gene pool that is on the verge of extinction.
● Grey Ukrainian cattle are descended from the wild aurochs (Bos Primigenius), which once roamed throughout Eurasia. This breed was an important part of the wealth of the Zaporizhzhia Sich.
● Calves are born red, which helps them hide in the grass and remain invisible to predators. They only turn grey as they mature.
● Working bulls of this breed were called oxen in ancient times. It was on them that the chumaks travelled to southern Ukraine for salt.
● They are very hardy! They can work 10 to 12 hours a day and carry loads from 1.5 to 3 tonnes.
● The breed was cultivated in Zaporizhzhia winter quarters because it best suited the requirements of steppe farming.
● The milk from these cows contains the A2 gene, which makes it hypoallergenic.

Ukrainian black-and-white dairy cow

Origin: Ukraine.
Life expectancy: 7-10 years.

● The Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed was developed in Ukraine to provide the country with milk in the second half of the 20th century (from the 1960s to the 1990s).
● The Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed is one of the most important and widespread breeds of cattle in Ukraine.
● Cows have not one, but four stomach compartments!
● Each cow has a unique pattern on its nose, just like human fingerprints!
● Cows can sleep standing up, but they must lie down to enter the deep sleep stage.
● They are ruminants. They spend 8 hours chewing their food, which they initially swallow quickly!
● Cows are very social animals. They also have ‘best friends’ with whom they spend most of their time.
● Cows see colours differently than we do. Their vision is dichromatic, which means they see the world in shades of blue and yellow.

Shetland pony (crossbreed)

Life expectancy: up to 30 years.
Favourite food: grass, grains, vegetables and fruit.
Name: Fire.

Fire:
● My name suits my character. I am fiery, active and charismatic!
● Fate has blessed me generously! I can even dance, but my dancing is dangerous because I have strong hooves.
● What you humans often call ‘knees’ on my front legs are actually my wrists (similar to your wrists). And the ‘knees’ on my hind legs are indeed knees.

Australian emu

Origin: Australia.
Lifespan: 10-20 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, fruits, roots, grains, insects.

● The second tallest bird after the ostrich, but not related to it! The emu's closest relative is the cassowary.
● It is endemic to Australia.
● It runs very fast – 50 km/h. Its long legs allow it to take strides of up to 275 cm.
● The structure of its feathers prevents overheating, so emus are active during the midday heat. They adapt to temperatures ranging from -5 to +45 degrees.
● Their eggs are dark green or turquoise in colour. The male incubates the clutch.
● Emus have three toes on each foot, unlike ostriches, which have two toes.
● In November-December 1932, the Australian Armed Forces carried out an operation called ‘War on the Emu’. The reason was that the birds could trample sheep pastures and damage grain crops.

African ostrich

Origin: savannahs and semi-deserts of Africa.
Life span: 30-40 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, fruits, roots, grains, insects.
● The African ostrich is the largest flightless bird on the planet. But this is not a disadvantage, but the result of millions of years of evolution! The bird is too heavy to fly and has small wings.
● The African ostrich was domesticated relatively recently — in the 19th century, around the 1860s–70s, in South Africa.
● Since ostriches have no teeth, they swallow small stones (gastroliths) to grind food in their stomachs, and often anything else they come across: nails, pieces of wood, iron, plastic, etc.
● Females incubate eggs during the day, as their grey plumage is not visible to predators against the background of the landscape. At night, they are replaced by males, whose black plumage is not visible against the night sky.
● Excellent eyesight - their eyes are up to 5 cm in diameter, the largest among land animals.
● Adaptation to heat - ostriches can tolerate high body temperatures of up to ~42°C without overheating. They cool down by breathing - open beak and rapid breathing.
Myths and stereotypes1). ‘The ostrich is a stupid bird’:
Myth: ostriches have small brains, so they are stupid.Truth: although ostriches have relatively small brains, they:
● have good memory and visual perception;
● exhibit complex behaviour in groups;
● are adept at avoiding predators and making decisions (e.g., when to flee, when to camouflage themselves).
2). ‘The ostrich buries its head in the sand’:
Myth: when an ostrich is afraid, it ‘buries its head in the sand’.Truth: ostriches never bury their heads in the sand. This myth probably arose from observations of ostriches:
● bending down to the ground to check on eggs in their nests;
● lying low to blend in with the landscape (camouflage).
3). ‘Ostriches are weak and defenceless’:Myth: without the ability to fly, ostriches have no chance against predators.Truth: ostrich is one of the most dangerous flightless birds:
● it can kick with great force;
● it is capable of seriously injuring or even killing a large predator.

Horned guinea fowl

Origin: Africa.
Life span: 10-12 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, leaves, seeds, insects, berries and fruits.

● In some countries, such as Italy, guinea fowl are called ‘pharaoh birds’ because they came to Europe from Ancient Egypt.
● Guinea fowl can run fast and fly well, especially short distances, to escape danger.
● Guinea fowls are good garden cleaners. They are the only domestic birds that destroy Colorado beetles.
● Guinea fowl meat is considered a delicacy; it is dietary, low in calories and has high taste qualities.
● Guinea fowl are known for their loud, sharp cries, which they make when they sense danger or are excited.

Bentham chickens

Origin: Indonesia, Japan, China.
Life span: 5-8 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, grains, insects, vegetables and fruit.

● You may be surprised to learn that a bantam is not just one chicken, but a whole group of very different small chickens! There are bantams with fluffy legs, with crests on their heads, with funny tails and very colourful feathers. It's like lots of different Barbie dolls, only chickens.
● Bantams are like ‘mini versions’ of chickens. They weigh less than 1 kg! That's why they seem so delicate and dainty.
● They are often kept not for their meat or eggs, but for their beauty.
● Some breeds of bantams tolerate cold weather well, despite their fragility.
● The word ‘bantam’ comes from the name of the seaport town of Bantam in the western part of the island of Java, Indonesia. It was there that European sailors replenished their supplies of live poultry for their voyages.

Tasmanian goose

Origin: Australia and neighbouring islands.
Lifespan: 20-25 years in the wild.
Name: Ustym Fedorovych.

● Tasmanian geese are almost unable to swim and are reluctant to enter the water, hence their other name – chicken goose.
● Unlike many other geese, Tasmanian geese have special salt glands. This allows them to drink salt water.
● Some sources mention its importation to Great Britain in the late 17th century as part of King James II's collection of waterfowl.
● These geese are true vegetarians! They love to graze on grass, eat leaves and plant seeds. They do not eat fish or insects like other waterfowl.
● In the 1950s, they were on the verge of complete extinction, but thanks to strict measures taken by the Australian government to preserve their population, Tasmanian geese are now safe.

Golden pheasant

Origin: China.
Favourite food: grass, grains, insects, vegetables and fruit.
Life expectancy: 5-6 years in the wild.

● The golden pheasant, also known as the ‘bird of paradise’ because of its incredible beauty, is one of the most spectacular members of the pheasant family.
● In China, golden pheasants have long been hunted for their meat and beautiful feathers.
● Thousands of golden pheasants are bred by bird lovers around the world. This bird has been known in Europe since the 19th century, but has not been domesticated for agricultural purposes.
● Because these animals spend most of their lives on the ground, they are also called ‘walking birds’. They are excellent runners and use their wings to escape predators and to climb trees for the night.
● Popular in Chinese art, where it personifies five moral qualities of a person: literary talent, militancy, courage, mercy and reliability.

Grey-eared pheasant

Origin: China (mountain forests and thickets).
Lifespan: 10-15 years in the wild.
Favourite food: grass, grains, insects, vegetables and fruit.

● ‘Ears’ are not ears! The white tufts of feathers growing on the sides of their heads are just plumage and have nothing to do with hearing!
● Eared pheasants have never been domesticated, unlike their relatives, the common pheasant.
● Due to their beauty and rarity, eared pheasants are very valuable. They are often bred in zoos and private collections around the world to preserve the species.
● They make loud, piercing cries that help them communicate with each other in dense forests.
● The blue eared pheasant has very strong legs and is capable of impressive high jumps.