A new wildlife rehabilitation center is set to be constructed in the Yelizovsky District of Kamchatka near the settlement of Razdolny. The facility – spanning 79 hectares – will welcome its first animals in 2027. The development is a collaborative effort between VTB Bank and the Nature Defenders Fund, which serves as the project coordinator and recruiter for rehabilitation specialists. The initiative is being directed by Pyotr Shpilenok, director of the Nature Defenders Fund and advisor to the VTB management board.
The center will specialize in receiving brown bears and other wild animals following conflicts with humans. Wildlife experts will examine and treat the animals, nurse the young, and prepare them for reintegration into their natural habitats. A primary operational focus is the rehabilitation of orphaned bear cubs. These animals will be raised with minimal human contact to preserve their natural instincts and wild behavior, ensuring a successful release into the native environment. In cases where an animal cannot survive independently in nature, the center will seek permanent sanctuary accommodations.
Systematic wildlife assistance is particularly critical in the Kamchatka region, where over 600 instances of bears entering human settlements have been recorded within a single year. In most of these conflict scenarios, the potentially dangerous animals are euthanized. However, scientific research and international wildlife management practices demonstrate that coexistence between humans and bears is achievable and largely depends on human behavior. The new center aims to address both sides of the human–wildlife conflict by providing necessary resources for animal recovery and managing human interactions.
The infrastructure of the site will include specialized enclosures, a veterinary block, and facilities for food storage and preparation. Bear rehabilitation protocols will be based on the methodology developed by Valentin Pazhetnov, a distinguished Russian biologist. This specialized technique successfully prepares orphaned cubs for life in the wild while retaining their natural behaviors. Additionally, the center will prioritize the study and prevention of the root causes of conflicts between humans and wild animals while assembling a dedicated team of specialized personnel.
The construction is part of the Bear Land program, a joint environmental initiative operating in the Kamchatka Territory, Sakhalin, and Magadan regions since April 2026. The program utilizes proven international practices and incorporates educational strategies to reduce the frequency of conflicts between humans and bears. Concurrently, it establishes the necessary infrastructure to assist animals harmed directly by human activities.
In conjunction with these environmental efforts at the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum, a cultural project titled Preserving Nature’s Masterpieces has been launched alongside the Tretyakov Gallery to merge art with conservation. The initiative utilizes Russian classical painting to communicate important environmental themes to contemporary audiences, serving as an extension of the VTB is a Classic campaign. The symbolic centerpiece of this project is Ivan Shishkin’s painting Morning in a Pine Forest, featuring a family of bears, which has been reimagined in a white–blue engraving style to promote conservation awareness.