On May 22, in celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity, nine Caucasian red deer were released into the wild in the forests near Yeghegnut Village, Lori Region. This symbolic event served as a powerful message highlighting the importance of biodiversity restoration and promoting responsible behavior towards wildlife.
The project was implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Armenia and WWF-Armenia, as part of the “Reintroduction of the Caucasian Red Deer in Armenia” initiative, which has been ongoing since 2013. To date, 13 deer have already been reintroduced into the forests of Dilijan. This year’s release marks a historic milestone: for the first time, red deer have been returned to the natural environment of Lori, where they were once widespread.
The deer released into the wild had been properly prepared for survival in their natural habitat under the continuous care and supervision of specialists.
Hakob Simidyan, Minister of Environment of the RA; Hambardzum Matevosyan, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chair of the Organizing Committee for the COP 17 Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity; Françoise Jacob, UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia; the Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran; as well as representatives of state agencies, local self-government bodies, international and non-governmental organizations, environmentalists, and journalists attended the event.
This initiative aims not only to restore an endangered species, but also to reframe the relationship between humans and nature. It stands as a clear testament to the sustainable development of ecosystems and the conservation of biodiversity.