The recreational education centre of chiropterous animals’ rehabilitation, working at the premises of Feldman Ecopark is the only facility of this kind in Ukraine.

Established in 2013, the centre managed to establish cooperation with scientists from Germany, Georgia, Turkey, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Belarus and Romania in a short time.

The centre is working in three main areas: chiropterous animals’ rehabilitation in Kharkiv and adjacent areas, studying and monitoring of these mammals, and environmental education of citizens. All these programs received an additional support from the international organizations: EUROBATS fund (Germany) appreciated all three directions, and the American Travelers’ Club supported field measurements in Ukraine and other countries.

Within a short period of time, the specialists of the centre were able to achieve significant results. Let us look at the statistics: just in two years, more than 1000 chiropterous were rehabilitated and returned to the environment; 80 000 units of printed educational products was published; 8 education campaigns were conducted on the territory of Feldman Ecopark and in V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, during which 10 thousand Kharkiv citizens became familiar with the work of the centre.

Besides, specialists of the centre are engaged in systematic scientific studies. In two years they published five scientific works, results of which were presented at Ukrainian and foreign conferences, and they also have discovered a new chiropterous research project (state registration number — 0114U004383). Along with that, on a permanent basis the scientists are involved in long-term projects on reconstruction and insulation of old buildings, taking into account the conservation of chiropterous shelters. Young naturalists, who carried out 10 research projects under the guidance of the centre, keep up with their teachers as well.