Kharkov Zoo: photo, description, address, mode of operation

Founded in 1895 Kharkov Zoo. It is one of the oldest menageries in Europe. That year, at the University Garden on an area of 2 hectares opened an exhibition of birds and pets. Learning about this idea, the residents of the surrounding villages began to replenish the collection of the exhibition with wild animals. After a while, the silkworm and apiary appeared on the territory of the future zoo.

A bit of history

In 1906, as reported by the local newspaper, the University Garden ended the construction of the main building of the aquarium. Four years later, the South Russian Acclimatization Society suggested that the exhibition management organize an animal park following Moscow's example. With the funds allocated by the society, summer aviaries and winter indoor premises for animals were built, as well as wild animals and birds were purchased.

The civil revolution brought ruin to the zoo. Restoration began only in 1921. They began to repair work in technical buildings and enclosures. Planting of ornamental flowers, honey grass and medicinal plants, as well as technical plants began. Slowly, but still the exposition of animals was restored.

The second discovery

By the end of the spring of 1922 the zoo of the city of Kharkiv again opened the doors for visitors. In 1928, the Society of Zoos (Germany) gives this zoo a train with animals. There were geese, parrots, monkeys, mongooses, kangaroos, llamas, leopards, lions, etc. Pelicans, swans and many other species of waterfowl were brought from the North Caucasus. For them, a pond with an area of more than 2,400 m ^{2 was built} .

By 1930, the territory of the park was (as it is today) 22 hectares. During this period the Kharkov zoo already had a mountain open-air cage. It is a fenced artificial mountain place where moufflons, gazelle, and tours perfectly suited. Also here were built aviaries for ungulates, a special poultry house, a monkey and elephant.

By the beginning of the Great Patriotic War, the zoo represented over 5,000 animals. By the end of it almost all were exterminated. The zoo's buildings were also badly damaged.

Restoration of the park

Recovery from almost zero began in early 1943. And on August 29, according to the order of the local Executive Committee, the zoo opened for visitors. Gradually lined up new aviaries for large animals, restored the aquarium and planted several tens of thousands of trees, bushes and grasses. They opened anew a pond in which there were goldfishes and several species of waterfowl.

By 1986 the zoo expansion project was completed to 120 hectares. Its value reached a sky-high sum of 70 million rubles of the Soviet period.

Another devastation

But came dashing 90's. These were the years of reform, and for the zoo - the times of another devastation. At first, the number of visitors decreased at times. Then, the costs for the fodder base and other financing were reduced. The expansion was no longer said, it would be possible to survive ...

Change for the better

To the centenary of the zoo, which was celebrated very widely, the pheasant was reconstructed. And invited guests brought mandarin, mangrove lizards, female kulan, lion, Amur leopard and urial. By November 1997, the zoo was replenished with animals from the menagerie of Nikolaev and Askania Nova. Among buffalo, deer and lamas there was a purebred pair of Przewalski horses. And by the end of 1999, they completed a large construction of an aviary for bears. By this time, the management of the zoo has gradually revived the tradition of patronage of art. Townspeople, farmers and organizations helped the zoo to feed the animals and transferred money for urgent needs.

What now with the zoo?

By the beginning of 2013, the Kharkov Zoo, whose photo is presented in the article, had in the care of about 230 species of protected and rare animals. For them, unique conditions have been created that are as close as possible to their habitats. Some animals even in captivity give offspring. Zoo, honoring tradition, protects, protects and studies wild animals from all corners of our planet. There are many excursions for adults and children. Specialists give advice on the protection of nature and fauna on a world scale, read interesting lectures. Zoo workers conduct talks about animals in kindergartens and primary schools and even sometimes come with them.

Site with young wild animals

In spring, the excitement arises near an open special enclosure in which young animals of different animals born in winter walk.

Visitors can spend a lot of time watching the fight of the cubs, the races of Dingo dog puppies, and small cubs for young, all afraid of goats, like babies - hogs and other cubs. There is also a contact area. Here, non-dangerous animals walk. They can be fed and ironed.

House of Herbivores

Day is not enough to bypass the entire Kharkov Zoo. Photo animals will help you a little dip in its atmosphere. The largest building of the zoo is the House of Herbivores. Black-breasted kangaroos represent a group of marsupials, and rodents are agouti from Central America and Patagonian mares. But the main tenants of this house are a variety of artiodactyls. Most often, visitors linger near canna and blue wildebeest. In spacious enclosures live maned sheep, wild boars, European deer, bison and other representatives of this group.

In antelope, in addition to numerous ungulates, live herbivorous mammals, not relatives of antelopes. This is the Central Asian turtles. They were settled here because of the similarity of the habitat and way of life. And with them live iguanas, the real natural zone of which is Central and South America.

Aquarium

The Aquarium of the Kharkov Zoo presents visitors with more than 140 species of fish. They came from tropical and subtropical waters of South America, Asia and Africa. There is an aquarium on the last floor of the original building. 22 aquariums contain more than 100 000 liters of water. They are home to almost 30 species of fish listed in the Red Book. The inhabitants are selected to each other according to their natural needs. There is even an aquaterrarium, imitating the rain forest of South America. The geometry of the aquariums is diverse: one is similar to a coral atoll, the other to a granite boulder.

In the middle of 2008, two showcases with huge dark fish appeared in the zoo. They are herbivorous piranhas. In places of natural habitat, they eat fruits that fall into the water. Among the most popular inhabitants are red vet, black barb, a ball of shark and, of course, labyrinth fish. These are cute macropods, gourami and fighting "cockerels". There are also rare fish in European zoos - pangasius (shark catfish) and catfish red-tailed Orinocian. The real pride of the Kharkov zoo is the shell pike. This is a very hardy predator. It dwells mainly in the waters of the Caribbean islands.

House of Predators

The Kharkov Zoo has a House of Predators. Lives in it are 4 of the most stunning views: lions, jaguars, panthers and tigers. After reconstruction in year-round enclosures there are now wood structures and natural bushes.

Reptile Room

Fans of various kinds of reptiles can also visit the Kharkov Zoo, the time of which allows you to conduct both morning excursions and evenings. The reptilian hall appeared only by the centennial of the zoo. It has more than 10 terrariums. They are home to about 50 species of reptiles from around the world. Terrariums have unnatural caves and rocks and are decorated with intricate artificial plants and real natural snags. Here you can see the crocodile of the Nile, the striped and Cape lizard, the iguana, the crocodile caiman, the boa constrictor, the python and many others.

Ponds

The Kharkov Zoo is proud of its large and small ponds. There is a huge number of different types of waterfowl. Here you can meet swan-swans, geese (Canadian geese), geese of mountain and dry-fowl, ducks of carolines and mandarins, as well as other representatives of birds from all over the world.

For its long history the Kharkov zoo has suffered many tests. It was rebuilt, and increased the occupied territory, and rebuilt after the Great Patriotic War, and reconstructed. In the 80s of the last century the zoo in Kharkov was given the status of a protected area. Many ask the question about how to get to the Kharkov Zoo.

Where is?

And today in the beautiful garden named after T. Shevchenko there is an old Kharkov zoo, whose address is: Sumskaya Street, 35. More than 400 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish live on 22 hectares. Among this set there are rare animals included in the Red Book.

Kharkov Zoo: operating mode

Every day from 8am to 19pm, without weekends and holidays, this wonderful menagerie works.

Cost of visiting the zoo:

• Children under 5 years - free of charge,
• Children from 5 to 13 years - 10 UAH. (About 27 rubles),
• Children from 13 years old and adults - 40 UAH. (Slightly more than 100 rubles).