Putin Gifts African Lions And Bears To North Korea's Pyongyang Zoo

UNSPLASH/Mika Brandt ILLUSTRATION

JAKARTA - Russia moved more than 70 animals, including an African lion and two brown bears, to a zoo in North Korea's capital Pyongyang, from the Moscow zoo.

The animal was a gift from the Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Korean people.

Alexander Kozlov, Russia's minister of natural resources, oversees the relocation of the animals, which were transported by plane to Pyongyang Central Zoo accompanied by veterinarians from Moscow Zoo.

As reported by Reuters on Wednesday, November 20, a video released by the Russian government showed a white cockatoe walking in a cage and Kozlov receiving a tour of the Korean zoo from local officials.

Russia in April donated birds, including eagles, cranes, and parrots to the Pyongyang Zoo.

Pyongyang and Moscow have been in closer ties since Putin visited the country in June and signed an agreement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.

Kim presented Putin a pair of Pungsan dogs, local races, during the trip. The two also took turns driving each other with Russian-made Aurus limousines.