Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The gold mining company Polyus and the ANO DPO Ecocenter "Zapovedniki" (the Training Center of the "Zapovednoye Polostya") presented a joint educational project—an interactive lesson, "Keeper of the Taiga: The Essentials of the Brown Bear"—at the All-Russian Nature Festival "Primordial Russia." The lesson brought together young Muscovites and visitors eager to learn more about the life of Russia's most famous forest predator. The exhibition is taking place at the Manezh Central Exhibition Hall.
This lesson, developed by professional environmental educators in collaboration with Polyus, introduces schoolchildren to the role of brown bears in the ecosystem, their habits, and, most importantly, safety precautions for a potential encounter with one in the wild. Through playful presentations, infographics, and short cartoons, children learn how to avoid dangerous encounters and why it's unwise to feed predators.
At the "Primordial Russia" festival, experts from the "Zapovedniy Polska" (Protected Embassy) held a workshop for young visitors to the exhibition, which also featured numerous photographs capturing bears in their natural environment.
Daria Grigorieva, Director of the Sustainable Development Department at Polyus PJSC: "The brown bear is the largest predator in Russian forests and the master of the taiga. The state of this species can largely be used to assess the health of ecosystems, including in the regions where Polyus operates. For us, this is not a "fairytale character," but a close neighbor: we must treat it with respect and caution, as encountering a bear in the forest is very dangerous. And it's important to talk about this with the younger generation. Education about ecology and biodiversity helps children learn how to protect nature and how to behave appropriately when encountering its inhabitants. That's why we enthusiastically supported the project of the Zapovednoye Polost Educational Center dedicated to the brown bear. An interactive lesson, filled with colorful illustrations, engaging activities, and games, is an excellent format for making the material easy to digest and memorable."
Elena Romanova, Director of the Zapovedniki Nature Center Educational Center (ANO DPO Ecocenter Zapovedniki): "At the "Primordial Russia" nature festival, we presented a live lesson about the brown bear for the first time, created with the support of the Polyus company. Incidentally, the exhibition includes many photographs of bears, demonstrating interest in this species and the important role it plays in our country. When we talked about bears with schoolchildren from the Krasnoyarsk Territory, we saw admiration and respect for this mighty beast in their eyes. At "Primordial Russia," young Muscovites and visitors to the capital were equally engrossed in the lesson and equally awed by the bear. This isn't just a lesson about the brown bear—it's an environmental education session about the harmony between humans and nature. We tell children that the best encounter with a bear is the one that never happened, and we teach them how to avoid unsafe situations."
Dmitry D., a 5th-grade student and participant in a lesson at the "Primordial Russia" festival:
"We had a really interesting activity at the exhibition. They told us all about the habits of the brown bear. They asked a lot of tricky questions, which required us to think and guess. There were also written assignments. It was captivating, and we spent a whole hour really entertaining. Now I've learned a few things to keep in mind if I ever encounter a bear!"
The lesson was piloted in Krasnoyarsk Krai, the Polyus region where encounters with the brown bear, the master of the forest, are common, but the project is also relevant to other Russian regions. Since its launch in October 2025, 30 lessons have already been held in various regions, attended by nearly 900 students from 17 educational institutions. All materials for the interactive lesson "Keeper of the Taiga" are available free of charge on the national portal "Zapovednyurok.rf." The initiative continues to expand thanks to educators who download materials from the portal and teach the lessons in their schools. Teachers and staff of specially protected natural areas can receive diplomas and letters of appreciation, and students can receive "Brown Bear Behavior Expert" certificates after completing an online test.
All materials for the interactive lesson "Keeper of the Taiga" are available for free. follow the link
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