Oksky Nature Reserve, Protected area in Ryazan Oblast, Russia
The Oksky Nature Reserve is a protected area along the Oka River in Ryazan Oblast, covering 77000 hectares (190000 acres) of wetlands, forests, and grassland. It sits in a relatively flat landscape where the river forms many meanders and side channels, creating habitats for waterbirds, beavers, and fish species.
Authorities established the protected area in 1935 to safeguard the Russian desman, a small aquatic mammal whose numbers were dropping at the time. Over the decades, work expanded to other threatened species, including large birds and predators.
The name comes from the Oka River, which flows through the area and has drawn fishers and foragers for centuries. Visitors today can watch anglers along the river sections, still casting their nets in the old way.
The museum inside the reserve displays around 200 mounted animals and plays forest sounds to give visitors a sense of life in the ecosystem. Guided walks run year-round, but paths can turn muddy and difficult in spring, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
A crane breeding center has operated here since 1979, raising chicks of rare species like the Siberian white crane each year. Visitors can see the birds from a safe distance, with staff often feeding young ones using hand puppets to prevent imprinting on humans.
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