BELARUS

Face value - 1 rouble
Metal - copper-nickel
Mintage - up to 5000 pieces
In circulation since 30.10.2001

Belovezhskaya pushcha. Zubr.

The main part of Belovezhskaya Pushcha reserve is situated in Belarus (Polish kings in XIV century and Russian czars in XVIII century were hunting there). It had been founded in 1940 in order to avoid total annihilation of zubr. Belovezhskaya Pushcha is the only old primeval forest area in Europe. In 1992 following decision by UNESCO the State National Park "Belovezhskaya Pushcha" was put on the List of World Legacy of Mankind, in 1997 it was awarded a European Diploma by the Council of Europe. In 1803 zubrs in Pushcha were declared protected animals by an Imperial Decree; however, by early 1917 their population decreased to 30 specimen, and in 1919 the last female zubr was killed. Nowadays there is about 472 zubrs in Belarus; the "Zubr" program, which is currently being implemented and is aiming at the dispersal of zubrs throughout the largest national parks and reserves, has been devised.