Moscow Zoo
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Moscow Zoo is the largest and oldest zoo in Russia.
It was founded in 1864 by a group of professor-biologists, K.F. Rulje, S.A. Usov and A.P. Bogdanov, from the Moscow State University. In 1919, the zoo was nationalized. In 1922, the ownership was transferred to the city of Moscow and has remained under Moscow's control ever since.
The zoo had an area of 10 hectares when it first opened, with 286 animals. In 1926, the zoo was expanded to adjacent lands, increasing the area to 18 hectares. The zoo's original buildings were wooden, built in the old Russian style with intricate wood trims.
In 1990, the zoo was renovated. Notable additions include a footbridge that connected the old (1864) and new (1926) properties of the zoo (prior to this, the zoo operated as two 'separate zoos' as the Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street divided the two properties) and a new main entrance in the shape of a large rock castle. Waterfalls and streams were added throughout the zoo to give the zoo a more natural feeling.
In addition, the zoo was expanded once more. New exhibits were opened including a sea aquarium, an aviary, a creatures of the night exhibit, a sea lion aquarium and a special zoo for children.
The Moscow zoo has over 6000 animals from more than 1000 species and covers an area of about 21.5 hectares.
The zoo studies animals behaviour, feeding and reproduction and breeds rare endangered species.
The following species are kept in captivity:
- Marsupial (Marsupialia)
- Didelphimorphia (Didelphidae)
- Dasyuromorphia (Dasyuridae)
- Macropod (Macropodidae)
- Insectivora (Insectivora)
- Erinaceidae (Erinaceidae)
- Elephant shrew (Macroscelididae)
- Treeshrew (Tupaiidae)
- Bat (Chiroptera)
- Megabat (Pteropodidae)
- Primate (Primates)
- Lemuridae (Lemuridae)
- Lorisidae (Lorisidae)
- Cebidae (Cebidae)
- (Callithricidae)
- Old World monkey (Cercopithecidae)
- Hominid (Pongidae)
- Xenarthra (Edentata)
- Lagomorpha (Lagomorpha)
- Leporidae (Leporidae)
- Rodent (Rodentia)
- Carnivora (Carnivora)
- Pinniped (Pinnipedia)
- Proboscidea (Proboscidea)
- Elephant (Elephantidae)
- Odd-toed ungulate (Perissodactyla)
- Equidae (Equidae)
- Even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla)
- Suidae (Suidae)
- Camelid (Camelidae)
- Deer (Cervidae)
- Giraffidae (Giraffidae)
- Bovid (Bovidae)
[edit] See also
- 1964 Soviet Union postal stamps dedicated to Moscow zoo.
[edit] External links
Zoo • Public aquarium • Aviary • Menagerie • Tourist attraction
List of zoos • List of aquaria • List of zoo associations
Animals in captivity • Environmental enrichment • Endangered species • Conservation biology • Biodiversity • Endangered species • Extinction • Ex-situ conservation • In-situ conservation • Wildlife conservation • Zoology
