Kyiv Zoo

The Kyiv Zoo (, ) is the largest zoo in Kyiv, Ukraine, and one of the largest in the former Soviet Union. Situated on about , the zoo is cared for by 378 staff members and receives about 280,000 visitors annually.

History

The Kyiv Zoo was founded in 1909 by the Nature Lovers Society, and was financed by various private donors and philanthropic efforts. During the early 20th century, after experiencing some initial setbacks and difficulties, the zoo limited its total number of animals to no more than 15–20 species at one time. During their first winter season, many of the zoo's temperate, tropical and semi-tropical species had to be transferred to the food-storage area of the main Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway station, as the zoo's founders and directors had not secured adequate overwintering facilities for all of their animals. Eventually, a suitable shelter was created at the A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden. As the Kyiv Zoo began to prosper, its number of animals being looked after increased, further limiting the available space. It was reported that occasional loose or escapee animals had frightened the employees of the garden.

Four years after it was founded, a relatively large, permanent location on the outskirts of Kyiv was allotted to the zoo. In 1913, the animals' winter facilities received central heating.

By 1914, as political instability in Imperial Russia had increased, the development of the zoo was limited. Only after the Russian Revolution (1917) ended did the zoo recover. During the 1940s (World War II), Kyiv was occupied by the Nazi German forces, and the zoo was used by the German garrison. Fortunately, the animals were evacuated out of the city, and later returned after the end of the war.

In 1970, the bird's pavilion was added, which is considered to be the largest in Europe to-date. In 1982, an exhibit called Animals Island was presented, in which animals were separated from the visitors by small canals. The Animals Island houses the zoo's large cats (like lions and tigers).

In 1996, the zoo was admitted to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA); however, it was expelled and banned in 2017 over poor conditions, and of mistreatment of animals. As of April 2018, the zoo is a "Candidate for Membership" with EAZA, and as such is being supported towards resuming full membership.

In 2008, some 51 animals died in the zoo. A series of controversial deaths also unfolded in 2010, when a 39-year-old elephant died at Kyiv Zoo on 26 April, followed by a camel on 26 May, and a bison on 31 May. The city administration and the zoo authorities blamed poisoning of the animals as cause of the deaths, while animal rights activists accused the substandard living conditions, negligent handling and unqualified zoo administration.Global Post: ''The world's worst zoos'', July 23, 2010
retrieved 14 October 2010

In 2009, a Ukrainian postage stamp was introduced to mark the 100th anniversary of the zoo. In 2020, the zoo received a full renovation to improve the life of the animals in it.

In response to concerns over the Russian military presence at the border, zoo director Kyrylo Trantin, began to prepare for the possibility of invasion about a week before it began. Trantin, with the advice of a zoo director in Haifa, Israel, stocked up on food supplies and materials to build additional enclosures or to repair existing ones. The zoo closed down for an indefinite amount of time following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zookeepers said they were still keeping care of the animals inside, with about 50 staff members and about 30 family members living within the facility to care for the animals.

Description

The zoo occupies a territory of . According to CBC, the zoo has 2,600 animals from 328 species, including a pair of elephants. 130 different kinds of trees and bushes decorate the zoo's islands.

The zoo is also a research centre, working on acclimatization of far land animals, and preserving and reproduction of rare animals, such as the Amur tigers, bisons, Przewalski's Horses and some others. The zoo has since been refurbished since 2017.

Gallery

File:Задумливий погляд горили.jpg, Western gorilla
File:Aquila Photo 107.jpg, Steppe eagle
File:Пташник 01.jpg, Bird pond
File:Тигр амурський DSC 0871.jpg, The Siberian tiger
File:Коні Пржевальського 01.JPG, Przewalski's horse
File:South African ostrich in The Kiev Zoo.jpg, The common ostrich
File:Рись IMG 3702.jpg, The Eurasian lynx
File:Київський зоопарк Зубр європейський.jpg, The European bison
File:Kiev zoo - 014.jpg, The llama
File:Kyiv Zoo, 2022 (963178) - lion.jpg, The lion
File:Носоріг у київському зоопарку.jpg, The white rhinoceros or square-lipped rhinoceros
File:Київський зоопарк рожеві фламінго 209.jpg, The greater flamingo
File:Лев и львица Киевский ЗОО.jpg, Sculpture "Lion and lioness"
File:Позитивный слон.jpg, The Asian elephant
File:Kyiv Zoo, 2022 (963138) - lemur Bayraktar.jpg, Ring-tailed lemur Bayraktar
File:Карта Киевский ЗОО.jpg, Zoo plan
File:Kiev Zoo entry.jpg, The main entrance to the zoo in 1968-2019

References

External links

Kyiv Zoo
Official website
*

– unofficial website


– information about the zoo

Kyiv Zoo getting ready for its 100th anniversary
– The Day

The story about Kyiv Zoo
by the site «Photo of Kyiv, Ukraine, Europe and other world»

{{authority control

Tourist attractions in Kyiv
Zoos in Ukraine
Buildings and structures in Kyiv
Educational organizations established in 1909
Zoos established in the 1900s
1909 establishments in Ukraine
Prospect Beresteiskyi