A pair of mute swans were let loose today into Lake Kaban in Kazan

Two new swans appeared in the bird world of Lake Kaban. Representatives of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan and Kazan Zoological Garden let two mute swans who had been nurtured at the zoological and botanical garden loose into the lake. The campaign was organized by the animal charity fund "Zarozhdenie" that had won the contest for socially-oriented non-commercial organizations in the Republic of Tatarstan to receive grants from the republican budget carried out by the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic in the framework of implementation of the ecological and enlightenment project "Re-introduction of swans". The swans were let loose at the lake without wing cropping, whereby they will have a chance to fly over to other water bodies of Kazan and its suburbs to be able to later live in the wild. The leading specialist of the Department of Ecological Education and Interaction with Public Organizations under the Ministry of Ecology of the Republic, Elena Gilmizyanova, acknowledged that "this campaign is relevant and timely - it is a part of city transformation, creation of a favorable and comfortable urban environment". "A very important event happened today - we let the swans loose into Kaban Lake, and we hope they will adjust and live here. It is normal in European capitals to see swans in municipal water bodies. We will try to do the same", acknowledged Deputy Director of Kazan Zoological and Botanical Garden, Alexander Malev. He said that the swans nurtured in captivity are already adjusted to people, so they are not stressed from living nearby. Ornithologists hope that on the loose the swans will have offsprings. A pair of swans that appeared on the lake earlier is already hatching eggs. As for hibernation, a special pump was purchased, and it prevented the ice-hole from freezing. The project is aimed at creation of the urbanized population of mute swans that will be able to live in municipal water bodies, which will be an additional factor for attraction of tourists and creation of the recreation zone for the citizens of Kazan. Implementation of this project will allow to fully ensure ecological education of the population and extensive advocacy of nature protection ideas. Press Service of the Ministry