Askania-Nova

Askania-Nova (Асканія-Нова), fully titled in Ukrainian: Біосферний заповідник «Асканія-Нова» ім. Фальц-Фейна) is a biosphere reserve located in Kherson Oblast, Ukraine, within the dry Taurida steppe near Oleshky Sands. An active member of the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme, the reserve maintains and conserves native steppe habitat and endemic species while also caring for rare and exotic animal species from around the world. It is also a research institute of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Ukraine. The reserve consists of a zoological park, as well as over 33,000 hectares (81,000+ acres) of grassland habitat for herds of ungulate mammals. There are also many botanical (dendrological) gardens, featuring hundreds of plant species, and a vast open territory of virgin steppe. Askania-Nova is listed on the Tentative List of World Heritage Sites in Ukraine.