Vladimir Alexeyevich Khlebnikov (1857–1934), the father of Velimir Khlebnikov, was born into an Astrakhan merchant family. Having noticed his inquisitive mind, his parents believed their son was destined to become a scientist.

While studying at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of St. Petersburg University, at the invitation of Professor Modest Nikolaevich Bogdanov, Vladimir participated in an expedition to the Murmansk coast. Among other things, the zoologists visited the Solovetsky Islands, and perhaps it was there that Khlebnikov conceived the idea to establish a nature reserve.

The Khlebnikov family often moved depending on Vladimir’s official assignments. He served as the caretaker of Lake Baskunchak’s salt mines. Then he was a trustee in Malye Derbety — ulus (a district) in the Kalmyk steppe. Viktor (Velimir) was born there. The scientist was actively engaged in ornithology his whole life. In 1890, a scientific and industrial exhibition was held in Kazan, at which Khlebnikov’s ornithological collection was awarded a Large Silver Medal and an Alexander Ribbon.

Vladimir Khlebnikov wrote 19 scientific articles and tried to instill a love of science in his sons: he often took them to scientific meetings at Kazan University, where he himself made presentations, created a small zoological museum at home, personally compiling its collection. Over time, his children also began contributing to the collection.

In 1910, Vladimir Khlebnikov raised the issue of establishing a protected area, but the idea could come to fruition only eight years later. The Astrakhan Nature Reserve in the lower reaches of the Volga, on the land of ancient Lebedia, became the first of its kind in the RSFSR and cost its creator and first director months and months of hard work without pay, conducting difficult negotiations with colleagues and local residents.

A recipient of the Orders of St. Stanislaus, 3rd and 2nd class, and St. Anna, 3rd class, Vladimir Khlebnikov retired as a state councilor — a rank that gave the right to personal nobility.

The presented photo is dated to the late 1890s — the period of the scientist’s heyday. This is a valuable exhibit: few photographs of Vladimir Khlebnikov have been preserved in the Moscow State Archive of Literature and Art.

While serving in Malye Derbety, Khlebnikov visited Tsaritsyn on official business, in particular, he acquired scientific literature and exhibits there, and went hunting.