Zoo in Tallinn: description, history, animals and tourists' reviews

a ) в окрестностях столицы Эстонии. The Zoo in Tallinn is the largest in Europe by area - it occupies 87 hectares of the picturesque forest Veskimets ( Veskimets a ) in the vicinity of the capital of Estonia. Despite the northern climatic conditions, the zoo contains animals from almost all latitudes of the world - from Alaska to Australia, in the number of almost 8000 individuals of more than 600 species and subspecies.

The history of the zoo

The history of the creation of the Tallinn Zoo (est. Tallinna Loomaaed) is interesting, the opening of which was planned since the 1920s, but only the brilliant victory of the Estonian shooting team at the World Championships in 1937 gave a real start to this project. Together with the Cup athletes brought an exotic gift from Finnish fans - the young lynx Illu (Illu), which then became the first exhibition and mascot of the Tallinn Zoological Garden.

After the entry of Estonia in 1940 into the USSR, the zoo was transferred to the municipal authority of the Tallinn City Council. And only after 40 years, the Tallinn Zoo was able to move to Veskimets, where he could develop freely, mastering the vast territory of the forest park.

Zoo in Soviet Tallinn

( World Association of Zoos and Aquariums ). Tallinn Zoological Park was the first of such institutions of the Soviet Union, which became a member of WAZA ( World Association of Zoos and Aquariums ). However, again in the fate of the zoo comes a difficult streak, since after the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980 in the country for almost 10 years to close all the financing of cultural objects. емало усилий и средств для внедрения новейшего оборудования и технологий. The zoo gets new development only in independent Estonia, where the authorities have exerted a lot of effort and money to implement the latest equipment and technologies.

Tropical house

The zoo in Tallinn contains many different animals. Despite the cool Baltic climate, the organizers of the zoo managed to create several exotic heat-loving exposures, in which savanna animals and hot, humid jungles feel great.

The exposition "Tropical House" is inhabited by crocodiles, which are adjacent to noble leopards, and several African elephants are walking in an enclosure equipped with warm rooms. Perfectly feel in a warm pool of hippos, and the audience, long waiting for the appearance of "graceful" Gloria, with delight meet ears, a piece of nose and eyes, which appeared from under the water. Unlike his distant relative, the rhinoceros always willingly poses before the zoo observers in Tallinn and gets a chic numerous photo shoots.

Also, the inhabitants of the African swamps - red-billed guinea-pigs and warthogs - are looking awake and well-fed, they even do not care for the Baltic wind, if only the trough with a nutritious and delicious fodder has always been complete.

All latitudes of the world

The Arctic exposition attracts attention with huge white bears, against which background brown teddy bears habitual for the middle stripe appear to be ruffled, fragile adolescents.

In the zoo you can see animals from all over the world. A large but cocky Asian bull gaur lives next to the majestic American bison, and a group of gay Alpine kids regularly arranges loud concerts awaiting cleaning and lunch, which is always very entertaining for visitors to the zoo.

Planet of the Apes

The zoo in Tallinn is rightfully proud of its monkey nursery. Primates live here a few dozen species, but some of the earliest inhabitants - chimpanzees Pinot, Betty and Quincy. The oldest male Pino has recently turned 30, and the zoo's employees together with the visitors congratulated him on his delicious treats and the joint drawing of paintings than the chimps love to do.

Employees of the zoo talk with special love and pride about their "reasonable" wards. How ecclesiastical those help to clean the cells, bringing the remains of food or broken branches, or are jealous of other employees or visitors, if they paid little attention to them. However, despite the touching friendship of people and monkeys, employees never enter their cells, explaining this by the fact that chimps have incredible power and are prone to outbreaks of unmotivated aggression. At such times they can easily raskurochit half of the inventory in the enclosure, damage themselves and other members of the pack, and a man - just kill. An adult male chimpanzee can lift a weight of up to 500 kg, and objects thrown by careless visitors - accurately and with great force to throw back into the unlucky show lovers.

In an open-air cage with little games - small South American monkeys, whose growth usually does not exceed 40 cm, there is always a cheerful and noisy atmosphere. They flit from branch to branch in their shady pen, paying little attention to the observers outside. Also in the zoo are dwarf hitters, which in height barely reach 15 cm. Two pairs of such cute monkeys in 2015, the Tallinn Zoo (Tallinn) presented for the 150th anniversary of the Leningrad Zoo, which was in great need of new animals for a healthy population replenishment.

Horned and feathered

The most numerous groups of animals in the zoo in Tallinn are the mountain sheep, tours and goats, there they are collected more than a thousand individuals. At the same time, many species of ungulates and horned breeds successfully reproduce, supplying the livestock to other zoos in the world.

In addition to animals, a large number of birds have been collected at the Zoological Garden of Tallinn - from exotic pelicans and flamingos to predatory eagles, vultures and owls. A very rare and numerous selection is made of different breeds of storks and cranes, many of which are on the verge of extinction, and the possibility of restoring their populations only in the forces such as the nurseries of Tallinn.

Reviews of tourists

Tourists and bloggers are very positive about the Tallinn Zoo. In addition to enthusiastic reviews of rare species of animals, everyone celebrates the beautiful secluded nature of the forest park, which beneficially affects all visitors, filling their hearts with peace and tranquility. On the territory there are several places for organized picnics, where in silence and the environment of untouched beauty of the forest you can really relax with your soul and body.

Among the shortcomings most often mentioned is the scarcity and unpretentiousness of the equipment of cages, which often consist only of concrete walls and floor. However, the inexpressible positive atmosphere of the zoo still leaves only the most pleasant impressions.

Zoo in Tallinn - how to get there

The entrance to the zoo is provided in two gates: to the western gate - from Ehitajate tee, 150 (Ehitajate tee, 150), and to the north - from Paldiski mnt, 145 (Paldiski maantee, 145).

In order not to search in an unfamiliar city information about where the zoo is located in Tallinn, how to get there, remember, from the city center you can get to the zoo by buses Nos. 21, 22, 41-43, to the stop "Nurmenuku" by buses No. No. 10, 28, 46 and 47.

оопарк круглый год без выходных. It works in the zoo all year round seven days a week.

November - February - from 9 to 17 hours (children's and indoor expositions - from 10 to 16),

From May to August - from 9 to 21 hours (10-19),

In other seasons - from 9 to 19 (10-18).

2 hours before the closing of the zoo, ticket offices stop selling tickets.

Ticket prices

October - April; Adult - 4 €, preferential (for children, students, pensioners) - 2 €, family (for 5 people) - 9 €.

, льготный — 4 €, семейный - 17 €. May - September: adult - 7 € , preferential - 4 €, family - 17 €.

In the adventure park, adult and discount tickets cost 21 € and 17 €, respectively, with the cost of visiting the zoo.

Children under 6 years old admission is free.

On Mondays, internal exposures do not work.