Kyiv Zoo
Kyiv Zoo Logo
Kyiv Zoo entry
50°27′15″N 30°27′46″E / 50.45417°N 30.46278°E / 50.45417; 30.46278
Date opened21 March 1909
LocationKyiv,
Ukraine Ukraine
Land area40 ha (99 acres)
No. of animals1947 (1 January 2010)
No. of species339 (1 January 2010)
Websitezoo.kyiv.ua
Aviary in the zoo. Birds of all breeds stay there over winter.

The Kyiv Zoo (Ukrainian: Київський Зоопарк, romanized: Kyyivsʹkyy Zoopark) is the only large zoo in Kyiv, Ukraine and one of the largest zoos in the former Soviet Union. Situated on about 40 hectares (99 acres), the zoo is cared for by 378 staff members and receives about 280,000 visitors annually.

History

Stamp depicting various animals and plants at the Kyiv Zoo to mark its 100th anniversary, issued in 2009 and bearing the emblem of the zoo and a barcode identifier.
Ukrainian postage stamp marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of Kyiv Zoo

The Kyiv Zoo was founded in 1909 by the Nature Lovers Society and was financed by various private donations. During its first years in business, the zoo experienced some hardships and therefore, did not contain many animals, just 17 different types. During the first winter the zoo was opened, the animals had to be kept in the food storage of the main Kyiv railway station, as the zoo's founders had not found a suitable shelter to keep the animals in during cold weather. Eventually, the shelter was found in the Kyiv Botanical Garden. As the zoo prospered, the number of animals had increased, limiting the space available. It was reported that stray animals frightened the employees of the garden.

Only 4 years after the zoo was founded, it was given a relatively large, permanent area in the outskirts of Kyiv. In 1913 the animals premises received heating.

Since 1914, as the political instability in Imperial Russia tightened, the development of the zoo was held up. Only after the Russian Revolution ended did the zoo recover. During the 1940s (World War II), Kyiv was occupied by the Nazi German forces, and the zoo was being used by the German garrison. Fortunately, the animals were evacuated out of Kyiv, 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, the Animals Island was presented, 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. However, it was expelled and banned in 2017 from the association, over poor conditions and mistreatment of animals.[1] As at April 2018, the zoo is a "Candidate for Membership" of EAZA and as such is being supported towards resuming full membership.[2]

In 2008, some 51 animals died in the zoo. A series of controversial deaths also unfolded in 2010 when the 39-year-old elephant of the zoo died on April 26, followed by a camel on May 26, and a bison on May 31. 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.[3][4]

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.

External videos
video icon Bunker in a Birdhouse: Kyiv Zoo Prepares for War - March 2022 - Washington Post

In response to concerns about Russian military build up 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.[5][6]

Description

Domestic animals in Kyiv Zoo

The zoo occupies a territory of 40 hectares (99 acres). According to CBC, the zoo has 2,600 animals from 328 species,[7] 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.

Species as of December 31, 2009
Group#Species#Specimens
Birds 98593
Mammals 59192
Reptiles 49135
Amphibians 21135
Fish 58530
Invertebrates 54362
Total: 3391947

References

  1. ↑ Clifford J. Levy: Tight Times in Ukraine Means Cramped Quarters for Its Zoo Animals, in The New York Times December 22, 2009, retrieved 14 October 2010
  2. ↑ EAZA support: Candidates for Membership
  3. ↑ Global Post: The world's worst zoos, July 23, 2010, retrieved 14 October 2010
  4. ↑ Andriy Kapustin:How many animals will die in Kyiv zoo? in the Kyiv Post, June 3, 2010, retrieved 17 January 2016
  5. ↑ O'Grady, Siobhan; Khudov, Kostiantyn (2022-03-06). "A blast-stressed elephant and an abandoned lemur: The war within Kyiv's zoo". Washington Post. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  6. ↑ "Russian attacks in Ukraine close Kyiv Zoo; some animals evacuated to Poland". UPI. Retrieved 2022-03-02.
  7. ↑ "Kiev zoo a 'concentration camp for animals'". CBC news. Associated Press. 23 March 2011. Retrieved 27 April 2011.
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