A rare pink pelican, listed in the Red Book of Ukraine, has been spotted in the floodplain of Khortytsia Island in the Zaporizhzhia region. Scientists consider this event an important sign of the natural recovery of the Dnipro ecosystem following the destruction of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant dam.
Historically, pelicans were common inhabitants of the wetlands of the Great Meadow (Velykyi Luh) before the construction of the Kakhovka Reservoir. Today, the restoration of the historical riverbed, the formation of shallow waters and sandbanks, and the regeneration of floodplain vegetation have once again created favorable habitats and feeding grounds for these birds.
According to researchers from the National Reserve “Khortytsia,” the return of the pink pelican demonstrates the remarkable resilience of nature and the rapid regeneration of the Lower Dnipro ecosystems despite decades of human pressure. The sighting also highlights the ecological importance of preserving and restoring Ukraine’s unique wetland landscapes and biodiversity.
Location
Kakhovka
