We are used to seeing animals in the enclosures of the zoo, but the safari park (Primorye) offers a completely new format of excursions. Here the animals are in their usual environment on a vast territory through which spectators follow the cages. Safari Park is a real adventure with the opportunity to touch the predatory world of wildlife.
Location
All wildlife lovers should definitely visit the safari park in Primorye. Travel address: 39th km of the Vladivostok-Nakhodka highway, Shkotovo, Primorsky Territory. Getting here is very easy. To do this, you need to move from Vladivostok along the highway in the direction of Shkotovo. It’s very easy to find out the location, because the main entrance is next to the highway.
Even if you use the services of intercity transport, feel free to take any bus to the village of Shkotovo and ask the driver to stop in front of the park.
A few words about the park
Safari Park (Primorye) offers visitors a stroll through the protected forest, following two routes. Naturally, always accompanied by a guide.
Primorsky Krai is an amazing flora and fauna. Almost a unique world where animals and birds live, which you will not see anywhere else on the territory of Russia or other states. That is why the keepers of the reserve are trying to preserve the ecosystem in the pristine world. Animals in the park are not kept locked, they are free, but they still need to keep a decent distance from people.
It is strictly forbidden to feed animals with food brought in the reserve. Only the one allowed by the guides. Animals must not be scared, touched, or brought near by children. It must be remembered that visitors are just guests in a fragile protected world.
Excursion "Park of predatory animals and birds of prey"
Walking along this route, you can meet funny Himalayan cubs, foxes, raccoon dogs, striped raccoons, Far Eastern forest cats, red wolves and badgers. The most interesting for visitors are otters. These funny animals are always active and strive to jump into your arms.
Red wolves are perhaps the last representatives of a kind. There are four individuals in the park. Once upon a time, animals inhabited the entire Primorsky Territory until they were shot because of their unusual coat color.
There are 15 different species of birds of prey in a safari park in the Shkotovsky district of Primorye. Most of them live in aviaries. This is done in order to monitor the population and maintain a unique look. Above the forest, only white-tailed eagles and several other birds fly.
Route "Park of Tigers and Ungulates"
Only three tigers live in the reserve: Amur, Taiga and Tikhon. But they have plenty of room. A forest area the size of three football fields has been allocated for them. You can’t get closer to the tigers. They can be observed from above from a bridge or from below due to a fenced area.
Ungulate Park is another vast territory on which several species of fauna live peacefully. So, here you can easily feed a noble female deer Izyub. She is so tame that she is not at all afraid of people. She is the mother of two hybrid deer, who are also very pleased with the guests. In addition to them, another 7 sika deer live in the park, five of them are happy to eat from their hands.
On this tour, even wild boars are not afraid of people. They look formidable animals, but in fact - completely domesticated pigs, although wild. And there are roe deer, as many as 13 individuals, and all are hospitable.
It was in this park that two friends met - the tiger Amur and the goat Timur. They loved each other so much that they became a real legend.
Timur and Cupid
Their friendship began more than strange. Once the goat of Timur was brought to the tiger as living prey. This practice has long been used in the reserve, because although animals are looked after, they should not lose their natural instincts. And they did not lose. Cupid was attacked by a goat, but he showed extraordinary courage and courage. He did not just run away from the predator, but began to butt him, thereby making it clear that he did not want to become prey. Probably, this behavior caused respect for the tiger, because from that day the animals became inseparable.
After that incident, the safari park (Primorye) attracted serious attention. The friendship of the predator and the herbivore caused a huge resonance in the press. Some believed that such behavior is contrary to natural instincts and animals need to be resettled. Others were touched by unusual friendship and supported animals. Timur and Cupid became celebrities.
The hard life of two friends
They immediately began to follow the animals. They installed several cameras, and all Internet users could observe. In the reserve, this did not bother anyone.
But the tiger and the goat continued their difficult journey together. We walked only together, ate beside us and went to bed side by side until the first colds came. At this time, the tigers were transferred to another enclosure, warmer, and the goat had to be resettled. Grief knew no bounds. Cupid howled at night and roared, and Timur refused to eat and drink. I had to put them together again.
Cases of injuries are also frequent. More recently, the tiger taught his horned friend a lesson by throwing him into a ditch. The goat was pestering his friend too much, butting him on the side. Naturally, Cupid could not stand it and gave a thrashing. The result is a few weeks of the veterinary clinic, but now Timur will be more careful. Similar cases with lesser consequences have happened more than once. But it looks like the tiger and the goat will continue their relationship even with bodily harm.
