Zoos and diplomacy: Russia gifts 75 animals to North Korea
Good relations between Russia and North Korea do not surprise anyone. However, another gesture of friendship between the countries governed by Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un might be unexpected. A gift from the Moscow Zoo will soon be sent to the zoo in Pyongyang.
21 November 2024 14:24
How does one seal friendship between two powers ruled by dictators? The best way, it seems, is to present a gift in the form of... live animals. Russia and North Korea have maintained political and economic relations for years. A present from Vladimir Putin to Kim Jong Un highlights their bond unusually. The leader of North Korea received an extraordinary gift of 75 animals, which will be sent from the Moscow Zoo to the zoo in Pyongyang.
Two brown bears, yaks, white cockatoos, pheasants, and mandarin ducks are among the animals being sent.
The animals travel from Russia to North Korea, but the conditions are terrible
The animals will arrive at the zoo in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea. The zoo is a popular attraction and a propaganda tool. The presence of numerous exotic species not only indicates the government's concern for nature but also aims to inspire admiration and emphasise the state's wealth.
Although the gesture may not raise objections, many people, including ecologists and animal rights activists, protested after seeing a video of how the animals were transported from Russia to Korea. "Double cage... What wrong have these poor animals done?"
