Museum of the brown bear

The initiator of this unusual museum in the village of Manyava was an ecologist Mykola Skidaniuk, who is concerned about the threat of the brown bear's complete disappearance from the Carpathian forests. He states that only 4 bears are currently living on the lands of Bohorodchany and Solotvyno forestries. Carpathian brown bears live about 8 years, and according to the norm they should live to at least 30. The museum was created by the NGO "Our Home is Manyava" in 2006. Its purpose is educational and environmental, its activities are aimed at preserving the brown bear species in the Carpathians.

In our country, the brown bear is found only in the Carpathians. According to the employees of the Carpathian Biosphere Reserve, in 2005 there were approximately 200 animals living there. As an endangered species, the brown bear is listed on the IUCN Red List as a "threatened species". That is why the youth NGO "Our Home is Manyava" together with the program "Protect the Bear in the Ukrainian Carpathians", implemented with the financial support of the Dutch Embassy in Ukraine, considered it their duty to create the first bear museum in the country. Its goal is to educate, and efforts are aimed at preserving the brown bear in the Carpathians.

More than 80 exhibits are collected in the small rooms of this unusual institution, each of them gives a reason to remember the mighty beast. The main object of the museum is a stuffed real brown bear. There are also souvenirs, children's toys, Hutsul tiles depicting the owner of the forest, many interesting trinkets, etc.

An integral part of the exhibition is an exhibition of paintings and photographs. The museum has a small library with local history, thematic and scientific literature. Everything concerns the life of the bear, in particular, the Carpathian bear. There are also seminars and educational excursions. Similar museums already exist in some European countries.

Opening hours: by appointment. Admission is free. The museum is located in the center of the village, in the village council building.