Moscow Zoo
Moscow zoo was the first of a kind in Russia. Established in 1864, it dates back more than 140 years!
It's always been more than just a zoo. Russian nobility donated to it, the employees stayed with the animals during German bombings, and even today every Muscovite will be proud to tell you of this place.
You'll have a chance to see 8,000 animals of more than 1,000 species. Bring your kids with you - the zoo is a great place to teach some important things. Seeing a beautiful animal virtually extinct in the wild will surely help them become more responsible and caring for our planet.
It's the "Big Pond" that you'll see first when you pass the gates. A beautiful home of many species of geese, swans,ducks and exotic birds, it never freezes completely.
The birds can breed and spend the winter on many of the small islands built around. Once they have chicks, the staff carefully takes them to a place where they'll be safe from crows.
The "Big Pond" also has flamingoes. They have their own special place that simulates shallow waters - the perfect nesting spot for those beautiful creatures.
Did you know their daily ration includes carotene? Thanks to it we can enjoy the gorgeous pink color of the birds!
Next to the pond sits the "Cats of Tropics" pavilion, where magnificent white tigers and jaguars live. Pass a few meters, and you'll see the "Cat Row". Inside, you'll find rare and endangered species like caracal, snow leopards, lynxes and Pallas cats. I was shocked to learn that beautiful Amur leopard has got only 25 species of it left!
A cheetah waits for you right next to the "Cat Row". This beast can run faster than 100 km/h and jump 8 meters long! One thing's for sure - I wouldn't like to meet it in the wild!
See that two-story yellow building? It was built in 1892. Today, it's a home to lovely giraffe Samson. Please don't feed him! He takes everything you offer, but human food is very bad for his health.
His neighbor is a black buck antelope, another endangered animal. Its beautiful horns and snout made it a target of African poachers. Gosh, this people simply don't have heart!
Speaking of antelopes - there's a whole pack of Gnu nearby, a male and several females. The leader snorts so funny when he claims his domain!
For unknown reason only males are born in that pack, and after some time the alpha tries to expel them, just like in the wildlife. The employees have to take the poor antelopes away from their herd. Let's just hope they will find a solution soon!
Don't miss the dolphinarium - its shows are so much fun! Be sure to come on a warm sunny day, though - otherwise the performances can be cancelled.
Check out the marine mammals as well - I never thought walruses and sea-lions are so agile on the land! And they dive so funny, raising a fountain of sparkles!
Just across the pool there's a cage with Vietnamese elephants. Many years ago they were sent as a gift to Cuba and turned down! The animals had to spend several months in the sea until USSR finally agreed to accept them.
One of the females died of exhaustion on the way, and another one couldn't stand the freezing Russian cold. Thankfully, Moscow Zoo managed to save the remaining animals and give them everything they could possibly need.
Be sure to visit the Insectopia, especially "Fauna of Indonesia" section. You'll have a unique chance to gaze at the breathtaking tropical butterflies. Several convenient view spots let you see the angel-like creatures in every possible detail, so take your time!
Coming with children? Have them ride a real horse or a pony! They'll love it! And did you know about "Kids zoo"? It has animals from Russian fairy tales - a cat, a goat, a donkey, a cow and several hens. But even if your kids don't know anything about Russian fairy tales - they'll surely like the working egg incubator!
If you want to learn more about our wonderful planet - Moscow Zoo is the place. Bring your entire family with you, and enjoy the silent conversation with Mother Nature.
The address is:
1 Bolshaya Gruzinskaya st.
Phone: (499) 252-35-80, (499) 255-53-75
Email: [email protected]
Open every day but Monday, 10:00-20:00 in summer, 10:00-17:00 in winter.
It's best to get there from Krasnopresnenskaya or Barrikadnaya metro stations.
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