Zoo animals and birds. Moscow Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Europe
Incredible facts
Zoos are amazing places where we get a unique opportunity to observe different animals.
The usual pattern of such establishments is not so interesting as we sometimes want.
Himalayan Zoo
The only dedicated and largest high altitude zoo in India Himalayan Zoo(Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park).
This zoo houses breeding animals that live in alpine conditions, including:
- Snow leopard.
- Tibetan wolves.
- Red pandas.
- Himalayan salamanders.
- Blue rams.
- Bloody pheasants.
- Peacock pheasants.
- Tragopanus the satyr.
- Himalayan monals.
The zoo was founded in 1958 like a Himalayan zoological park. It was renamed in 1975 by then Prime Minister Indir Gandhi in memory of former West Bengal Governor Padmaja Naidu.
Bible story
T The family's zoological garden in Jerusalem, known as the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, highlights a collection of animals featured in the Hebrew Bible.
Maintaining a specialized theme in a zoo is quite difficult because some of the Biblical animals have already disappeared. The terms used in the Bible to name animals are actually ambiguous, which leads to some uncertainty and is the subject of debate.
Now in the zoo there are various endangered animals in addition to the Biblical animals. It develops various breeding programs, thanks to which it was possible save 11 species of animals from extinction.
Since its establishment in 1940, the zoo has moved several times, but is now located in the Malha Valley.
The two-level park includes trees and shrubs mentioned in the Bible, a man-made wall called the "Wall of Moses" and a wooden boat-shaped exhibit reminiscent of Noah's Ark.
Old McDonald's Farm
Opened in 1966 in Hampton, Virginia, USA public park and children's zoo called "Old MacDonald Farm" (Farm Old MacDonald).
Initially, it was created on that site agricultural farm. Now she has turned into a zoo that has educational value about farm life for children.
In addition to the animals, the farm features old farm equipment, an original Hampton train station, a family cemetery and a display garden with rare azaleas.
Butterfly Park
There are many gardens, houses and exhibits with many butterflies, but the world's oldest and largest butterfly zoo located in Florida, USA called Butterfly World, which opened in 1988.
Butterfly World is a research center, a veritable butterfly farm and a public attraction.
In addition to approx. 5,000 live butterflies The park also contains aviaries with hummingbirds, various tropical birds, botanical gardens, a collection of live and artificial beetles, and a collection of artificial butterflies.
Also available an aviary in which you can feed lorikeet birds.
Rescued animals
In New Jersey, USA there is a zoo called Popcorn Park Zoo. This is a haven for abandoned, wounded, sick, abused and elderly animals.
The small zoo houses only 200 animals on an area of less than 3 hectares. They have been providing shelter and food to rescued animals since 1977.
In the zoo you can meet foxes, geese, deer, lions, tigers and even bears. Popcorn also has rescued dogs and cats that can be given away to caring visitors.
Interesting fact! Local workers talk about how an elephant at the zoo used its trunk to herd a group of ducklings.
Tropical Zoo
In the city of Hilo, Hawaii, USA, there is a zoo (Pana"ewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens) in the tropical forest.
Although this is a small zoo (only 5 hectares), it can boast of a popular white bengal tiger named Namaste.
Located in a tropical zoo more than 80 different species of animals, as well as a butterfly house.
Koala Zoo
Australia is the birthplace the world's oldest and largest koalas(Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary), where they are widely represented at the Melbourne Zoo.
In addition, this zoo is home to many other wonderful animals, such as:
- Kangaroo.
- Tasmanian devil.
- Wombat.
- Echidna.
- Platypus.
- Many types of parrots.
- Many types of reptiles.
Visitors have a rare opportunity hold koalas in your arms for a fee.
Kangaroos roam freely around the zoo and lorikeets, flying, feed on nectar.
Birds of Prey
The International Center for Birds of Prey (ICBP) is located in Gloucestershire, England, and is home to approximately 60 species of owls and other birds of prey.
The center always has 20 - 40 trained birds available at the local falconry school (Hawk Walk). You can also see there demonstration flights of trained birds.
Originally a zoo created in 1967 as a falconry center for the Glasier family, with the goal of educating people about birds of prey.
Philip Glaeser was Britain's leading falconry expert. His daughter, Jemima Parry-Jones, is currently the director of the ICBP.
Amusement park
Originally, Disney Park (Animal Kingdom), Florida, England was built at this location. Then the amusement park grew into much more - it became a zoo with attractions and a resort, all in one.
This treasure trove of entertainment opened in 1959 and is named after a colony of pink flamingos. "land of flamingos"(Flamingo Land). Now the park has more than 120 species of animals.
In addition to the zoo in the land of flamingos, the following entertainments:
- More than 50 attractions and attractions.
- Three shows.
- 9 hole golf course.
- 1,000 seat entertainment events.
- Pool.
Northern animals
Polar Zoo in Norway the northernmost in the world. It has the largest area allocated for one animal compared to other zoos in the world.
Zoo area is 46 hectares, which specializes in Scandinavian animals, showing them in their natural habitat.
In the polar zoo you can also find:
- Volkov.
- Bears.
- Deer.
- Moose.
- Musk oxen.
There are a number of unique activities on offer, including spotting wolves and foxes in close proximity. The zoo also has demonstration areas for photo sessions with animals.
Giza Zoo
In Egypt, the Giza Zoo has a zoological garden of 32 hectares, which was opened back in 1891, and before that the garden was part of the harem.
The original collection of animals was taken from a private menagerie. From 1890 to 1902 there was a natural history museum there.
Now in Giza except The zoo's wide range of animals features architectural and botanical attractions.
The garden consists of paths with black stone slabs brought from Italian city of Trieste. There are also pedestrian paths made of mosaic structures.
At one time, the zoo had a suspension bridge designed by Gustave Eiffel. This bridge allows visitors to observe the animals from above, which is the very first innovation in the world this kind. The zoo also contains five grottoes and a Japanese-style building.
Color in clothes
While animal themed clothing is allowed in most zoos, it prohibited from World of Adventure Zoo in the UK.
The ban came into force when the zoo management noticed that local animals, when approaching people dressed in the colors of predatory animals, began to worry and run away.
Chinese fakes
China is famous for its counterfeits in literally all industries.
It even got to the point that a zoo in Henan province began to attract visitors fake animals. So, a dog of the Tibetan Mastiff breed dressed up as a lion and demonstratively put it on display.
There was literally an embarrassment when The "African lion" barked. At the same time, in an attempt to save reputation, the zoo director said that the real lion was temporarily removed from the zoo.
How long do elephants live?
Typically, animals in zoos live longer than in the wild.
But not elephants. These animals live an average of 56 years in the wild, and 17-19 years in the zoo. Also surprising is the fact that elephants captured from the wild live longer in zoos than those born in captivity.
At the same time, scientists are still can't explain such facts.
Inseparable friends
In 2001, police raided one of the drug dens in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where there were three-month-old animals rescued: a bear, a tiger and a lion, who were named Baloo, Shere Khan and Lion respectively.
The trio has since been housed at a local zoo. They played, ate and slept together.
Now these animals have already become adults and that’s it also, without being separated, they live in one building.
One of the oldest zoos in Europe, founded back in 1864. With an extensive collection of animals (more than 1000 species!), it is one of the iconic attractions of Moscow and, in addition, is among the top ten most visited zoos in the world.
The territory of the zoo covers an area of 21.4 hectares and consists of two parts, which are separated by Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street: they are usually called the “old” and “new” territories of the Moscow Zoo. The transition between them is carried out via a pedestrian bridge. In both territories there are ponds (Bolshoi Krasnopresnensky on the old one, Small one on the new one) with waterfowl, as well as aviaries and pavilions with various animals. Visitors can enjoy cafes and souvenir shops; there are attractions and a playground for children.
Also on the territory there is a pony riding circle and various sculptures, among which the giant “Tree of Fairy Tales” by Zurab Tsereteli and a bronze figure of a walrus stand out.
Most townspeople and tourists come to the zoo just for a walk: like one of the city parks where you can look at animals, but this is not its only or even its main function. The Moscow Zoo is the main zoo of Russia, a member of the World and European Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA and EAZA), as well as the headquarters of the Euro-Asian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA). By actively participating in international projects and programs, the Moscow Zoo makes a great contribution to the study and conservation of rare and endangered animal species.
In addition, the zoo conducts active educational activities: it operates a lecture hall, an educational project “Moscow Zoo Academy” and a Club of Young Biologists (YUBZ).
Animals of the Moscow Zoo
The Moscow Zoo has an impressive collection of animals, including more than 1,000 species, with the number of living specimens being more than 8,000 individuals. These include mammals, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and even fish; You can also see various species of arthropods, insects and butterflies in the zoo's pavilions.
The most popular animals of the Moscow Zoo:
Asian elephants;
. reticulated giraffe;
Grevy's zebra;
Black antelope;
African ostrich;
Bactrian camel;
Asiatic lion;
Amur tiger;
Brown bear;
Polar bear;
Japanese macaques;
Gorilla;
Orangutans;
Northern fur seals;
Mississippi alligator;
Blunt crocodile;
Reticulated Python;
Toad-aha;
. alpaca;
Capybara;
Sloth;
Andean condor;
Pink Pelican;
Pink flamingo;
Pygmy hippopotamus;
Red Panda;
Leaf-cutter ants.
All animals are distributed in thematic exhibitions and pavilions demonstrating the inhabitants of certain regions or related species: “Fauna of Russia”, “Primates”, “Birds of Prey Rock”, “Turya Gorka”, “Night World”, “Bird House”, “Terrarium” , "Animals of Africa", "Arachnoland" and others.
It is curious that among other animals in the Moscow Zoo there are real stars: for example, the giraffe Samson Gamletovich Leningradov. Samson the giraffe was born in 1993 and, thanks to his exceptional kindness and responsive reaction to visitors, became a real favorite of the public.
Another star of the zoo is the pygmy hippopotamus Ksyusha, whose touching appearance evokes genuine delight among visitors.
Birds of Prey Rock
The Birds of Prey Rock at the Moscow Zoo is a unique exhibition built around an artificial mountain with grottoes and ledges. Several enclosures, forming an irregularly shaped dome around the rock, contain representatives of large species of birds of prey: Steller's sea eagle, Andean condor, black vulture and griffon vulture.
Birds of Prey Rock can be recognized by its spectacular dome made of metal mesh on arched supports, which rises above the old zoo grounds.
The artificial rock imitates the natural habitat of birds: it has balconies and ledges, and houses bird houses. The airspace of the enclosures is intended for flight, although its capabilities are, of course, limited.
There are technical rooms inside the rock.
Exotarium
The Exotarium of the Moscow Zoo is a unique space, most of which is devoted to aquariums in which the landscapes of a coral reef are reproduced. His collection includes about 100 species of coral fish (sharks, moray eels, butterfly fish, boxfish and others), as well as sea anemones and the corals themselves. In addition to fish, the aquariums are home to lobsters, sea urchins and starfish.
Also in the Exotarium you can see a colony of South American leaf-cutter ants and a nest of ground bumblebees.
Terrarium
The Moscow Zoo's terrarium is a fairly large pavilion that displays a large collection of large reptiles: crocodiles, snakes, and turtles.
The largest specimens usually attract the greatest interest from visitors: the reticulated python (a large snake that can reach a maximum length of 12 meters), the Madagascar boa constrictor, the Mississippi alligator, the snout-snouted crocodile and the gharial crocodile. The Mississippi alligator named Saturn receives special attention - he is more than 80 years old, during his life he managed to live in the Berlin (before the Second World War) and London (where he was delivered as a trophy) zoos, and in 1946 he was donated to the Moscow Zoo, where he still lives.
The Terrarium has earned particular love from young zoo visitors: children look at the reptiles with interest and animatedly argue whether the crocodiles on display are alive or just stuffed animals. The fact is that crocodiles lead a sedentary lifestyle, and you can spend a long time watching them and not notice a single movement.
In the outdoor enclosures of the Terrarium you can see giant land turtles.
Primates
The Primates Pavilion, also known among visitors as the Monkey House, is one of the largest pavilions at the Moscow Zoo, housing about 30 species of primates.
In the exhibition you can see both very small monkeys - marmosets, tamarins and others, as well as larger ones. The greatest interest among visitors is caused by great apes: orangutans, gibbons and gorillas, to which an entire wing of the pavilion is allocated. In the basement of the pavilion, where twilight reigns during the day, you can see the nocturnal prosimians loris and galagos.
Among other things, information stands contain a large amount of information about our closest relatives.
Night world
The Night World Pavilion, located on the old zoo grounds near the Tree of Fairy Tales sculpture, is not very large, but has a very interesting exhibition that is especially attractive to children.
It is designed in the form of a dark, semi-underground cave where nocturnal animals are kept. Day and night in the pavilion have switched places: when there are visitors, it is dark, but when the zoo closes, fluorescent lamps are turned on here. In the enclosures you can see acacia rats, African dormouse, spiny mice, chinchillas and degus, house possums, gerbils and hedgehogs, as well as bats.
Most of the inhabitants of the “Night World” are small and inconspicuous, so it can be difficult to see them behind the glass, and visitors linger for a long time near the enclosures, trying to figure out where the animal is hiding.
Arachnolandia
The Arachnolandia pavilion, located on the old territory of the Moscow Zoo, presents visitors with an extensive collection of arthropods - not only spiders, as the name suggests, but also scorpions, centipedes, phrynes and mantises.
Arachnolandia presents about 60 species of arthropods: the exhibition is one of the largest in Europe! In the terrariums you can see karakurts, tarantulas, goliath spiders (the largest species of spider in the world), house spiders and harvestmen, wasp-shaped argiope, jumping spiders, giant and imperial scorpions, phrynes, centipedes, mantises and other curious inhabitants.
Visiting the pavilion is possible accompanied by a guide and is carried out in sessions.
Animals of Africa
“Animals of Africa” (“African glade”) is practically a corner of the African savannah, where you can see several species of large African animals that feed in different plant layers and do not compete with each other.
In the largest enclosure, the reticulated giraffe and Grevy's zebras peacefully coexist, and in the neighboring ones you can see the sable antelope, the pygmy dik-dik antelope, meerkats and the pygmy hippopotamus. In the summer they walk in open enclosures, but in the cold season they move to a warm pavilion.
The local “star” was the dwarf hippopotamus Ksyusha, whose touching appearance was very much loved by visitors to the Moscow Zoo.
Turya Gorka
Turya Gorka is another artificial mountain, similar to the Rock of Birds of Prey, but with fundamentally different inhabitants: mountain ungulates live here.
Gradually narrowing towards the top, the hill is replete with ledges and caves, among which you can see marking goats and Dagestan aurochs. It is especially interesting to watch the males: when they clash their horns, they often engage in ritual fights, and on steep slopes this looks truly spectacular.
Children's Zoo
The Children's Zoo is a special part of the Moscow Zoo, located on a new territory near. It is designed to introduce the youngest visitors to different types of domestic animals: here you can see cows, rams, rabbits, roosters, chickens, geese and pigeons of various breeds bred by man.
There are also playgrounds here.
At the moment, the Children's Zoo is completely closed for reconstruction (until the end of 2018).
History of the Moscow Zoo
The Moscow Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Europe. It was organized by the Russian Imperial Society for the Acclimatization of Animals and Plants and opened on February 12, 1864 (January 31, old style). One of the main initiators and inspirer of its creation was the famous zoologist and popularizer of natural sciences Anatoly Bogdanov, who saw the created zoo as an “open-air museum.”
The zoo did not have full government support, and therefore soon found itself in a dire financial situation: income from entrance fees and donations was not enough to cover the costs of maintaining the animals, and the Acclimatization Society was forced to sell many of the animals abroad. As a result, the exhibition became poorer and attendance fell even lower. Trying to improve his budget, the Society rented out the zoo to private entrepreneurs, but this did not produce tangible results, and he remained deeply in debt. In 1905-1907, the zoo found itself at the center of revolutionary battles and suffered significantly: the recently built Aquarium was completely destroyed, wooden pavilions and buildings were burned, and many animals died.
In 1919, the Moscow Zoological Garden was nationalized, and this became a turning point in its history: the city authorities began to allocate significant funds for the maintenance and replenishment of the animal collection. In 1924, for the development of the zoo, a new territory was added to it, expanding it to the Garden Ring; soon, according to the design of the architect Karl Gippius, artificial hills were built on it: “Island of Animals” and “Turya Hill”, as well as a monkey bar and other new pavilions. The annexation of a new territory and a change in the principles of exhibiting animals led to the renaming of the zoo into a zoo. At the same time, a research department was created at the Moscow Zoo and a Club of Young Biologists was organized. Subsequently, the territory of the Moscow Zoo was repeatedly reconstructed and updated.
During the Great Patriotic War, the zoo was bombed, which caused significant damage to it. Some of the animals were evacuated to the Sverdlovsk Zoo, the new territory was closed, but the old one continued to work and remained open to the public even during the most difficult years of the war.
After the end of the war, the Moscow Zoo was restored and flourished. In 1990-1997, its territory was reconstructed and updated; the Main Entrance and a pedestrian bridge between the old and new territories, which have survived to this day, were built on it, as well as new exhibitions and pavilions, including the “Birds of Prey Rock”, “Polar world" and others.
Demonstration feedings
In addition to viewing the main exhibition of animals, zoo visitors can see demonstration feedings.
Demonstration feedings are an opportunity to become more familiar with the habits of animals, because it is during feedings (the hours of which animals remember well) that they are most active. In addition, for some of them feeding is associated with play.
At the Moscow Zoo you can see demonstration feedings of jackals, two-toed sloths, jungle cats, otters, beavers and martens, mongooses, northern fur seals, gray seals, pink pelicans, as well as amphibians, which are held on a scheduled basis in the summer.
Opening hours, how to get there
The Moscow Zoo is open to visitors all year round and operates daily. It is best to visit it in the summer, when animals live in outdoor enclosures; In winter, most of them are transferred to warm pavilions (and some hibernate), and the exhibition available to visitors is noticeably reduced.
Opening hours: from 7:30 to 20:00 in summer, from 09:00 to 17:00 in winter. Entrance to the zoo closes one hour before closing.
Cost of visit: 500 rubles (full ticket, adults); for a number of preferential categories - free of charge. Entrance to some pavilions and exhibitions ("Exotarium" and others) is paid separately.
Official website of the Moscow Zoo: moscowzoo.ru - on it you can check the work schedule, ticket prices, as well as the schedule of demonstration feedings on a specific selected day. Here you can buy tickets online or book a tour.
Located at Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, 1. You can get to it on foot from the metro stations "Barricade" Tagansko-Krasnopresnenskaya line and "Krasnopresnenskaya" Annular.
Almost completely destroyed by humans and preserved only in zoos? In addition to these animals, approximately 40 species of plants face the fate of extinction...
According to a list published by the International Organization for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, there are currently only 68 tigers of the species pictured in the top photo left in the world - all of which remain only in Chinese zoos.
Despite human efforts to preserve endangered animal species, the situation remains critical for some representatives. Let us remember several beautiful living beings, whose existence remains very problematic due to the recklessness of our ancestors and contemporaries.
The Mexican Plateau fish survived only in private aquariums after water pollution in the Gulf reached its current catastrophic levels.
The relief pigeon from Mexico has also been preserved only in nurseries since 1972.
A deer ox that lived in the heart of Africa has disappeared into the wild. Numerous searches in the Niger and Lake Chad region were unsuccessful.
The Hueca rail is a flightless bird native to Guam that disappeared from the wild in the early 1970s.
The satin lion from North Africa is almost extinct; the exact number of these animals kept in zoos is unknown.
The Hawaiian crow has not been seen in the wild since 2002, although several individuals live and breed in zoos.
David's deer managed to survive only in captivity; its numbers in Chinese zoos have increased slightly in recent years, but have not even come close to their former popularity.
One of the rarest animals in North America is the black-footed ferret. In 1981, a dog killed a ferret in Wyoming and people discovered a very small group of these animals and managed to preserve them.
The not-at-all-cartoon blue macaw is also on the verge of extinction.
The Kihansi splashing toads also no longer remain in their habitats in Tanzania. This species of amphibian is capable of surviving in nature without a mate, but for many years researchers have not found traces of the Kihansi toad.
Only the American Wyoming toad remains in zoos.
Red-tailed black Labeo is an endangered fish from Thailand, included in the Red Book and also preserved only in aquariums.
The giant tortoises of the Seychelles were killed by some unknown epidemic disease. It was possible to preserve only a few individuals of this reptile in the world.
The Brazilian bird Mitu-Mitu was last seen in the wild in the late 1980s. Now lives only on two bird farms in South America.
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On January 31, 1864, thanks to the efforts of the All-Russian Imperial Society for the Acclimatization of Plants and Animals, the first Moscow Zoo was opened, from which one of the largest zoos in the world was subsequently formed. The garden was geographically laid out on the site of the city park for festivities on Presnensky Ponds.
Directly on the opening day of the Moscow Zoo, there were 134 domestic animals, 153 wild animals and birds, and 7 reptiles. Of the exotics, Muscovites liked lions, leopards and rhinoceros the most.
Today, as the press service of the Moscow Zoo told RG, their collection of animals, fish, reptiles, and amphibians is one of the largest and most unique in the world. It has 8,000 animals belonging to 1,000 species. What are the rarest, most valuable and unusual animals now living in the capital's zoo?
1. Pallas's cat
Until last year, the wild cat, the manul, was considered the symbol of the Moscow Zoo. Zoo scientists say that these cute furry animals, living in the steppes and deserts of Western, Central and Central Asia and southern Siberia - from the Caspian Sea to Transbaikalia - still remain an extremely poorly studied species. And all because the Pallas's cat leads a secretive lifestyle. In nature, Pallas' cats have few enemies. Of the terrestrial predators, only the wolf probably preys on them.
The wild cat feeds mainly on pikas and rodents. Catches its prey, guarding it near stones and holes. Manul is a nocturnal animal. Usually it is seen either after sunset or early in the morning. But in the summer the cat still comes out to bask in the sun. Pallas' cats have an interesting feature: in the fall - October - November, their appetite increases. The animals eat one and a half times more than usual and rapidly gain weight - the weight of adult males at this time can reach 10 kg. But in December - January, the appetite worsens, and sometimes Pallas' cat eats even every other day.
Pallas's cat is included in the Red Books of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and China. In zoos around the world, Pallas's cats are rare inhabitants. Pallas' cats first appeared at the Moscow Zoo in 1957. Now a female and a cub live in the zoo. Raising little Pallas' cats in a zoo is not easy, employees say. Even if the mother takes good care of them. Kittens often get sick and die. To protect them, from six weeks of age to three months, they are vaccinated against infectious feline diseases every two weeks, and then vaccinated annually throughout their lives.
Adult Pallas' cats are also not easy patients for veterinarians. They get sick very secretly, not showing symptoms of the disease until it is too late. Often the well-being of an animal must be judged by the expression of its eyes and subtle nuances of behavior. Treating Pallas's cats is also not easy: they have to be caught with a special net and firmly fixed. These small cats desperately defend themselves: with their claws and long sharp teeth they are capable of inflicting serious wounds. But even among Pallas' cats there are exceptions. In the Moscow Zoo there lived a Pallas cat named Sultan. He was caught in the wild young and lived in the zoo for a very long time. Already at an advanced age, he injured his neck, and the wound did not heal for a long time. When veterinarians came to him, he stood up on his hind legs, leaned on the edge of the house with his front legs and exposed his neck to treat the wound. This was such a smart cat.
2. Irbis (snow leopard)
Today, the snow leopard, which has unusually beautiful fur, is endangered and is listed in the Red Book.
In nature, the snow leopard lives in the mountainous regions of Asia - from Afghanistan to western China, in the Himalayas, Tibet, the mountains of Mongolia, and Altai. This is one of the highest mountain animals. In most areas, the snow leopard stays in the summer near alpine meadows along the snow line at an altitude of 3500 - 4000 meters, in the Himalayas it reaches 5500 -6000 meters.
Animals live alone. Only once a year - from March to May - does a male meet with a female. But subsequently he does not take part in raising children. This predator hunts large ungulates - roe deer and wild boar. In summer, the snow leopard follows ungulates to high alpine meadows, and in spring - to the forest belt. After heavy snowfalls it descends to the foothill plains. The leopard silently creeps up to its victim and suddenly jumps on it. He can jump up to 10 meters in length and up to 3 meters in height. Having not caught the prey immediately, it stops pursuing after several jumps.
The first snow leopard appeared in the Moscow Zoo in 1901. Since then, more than one generation of snow leopards has changed. These animals are not aggressive, but in captivity they remain wild and are not tamed. And like the true inhabitants of the highlands, living near the edge of the ice, they do not tolerate heat well. Therefore, in the summer the Moscow snow leopard hides in the shade, and seeing it can be a great success.
3. Vicuna
A very rare animal of the camelid family, listed in the Red Book.
The vicuña has been considered a sacred animal in the Andes since ancient times. The mountaineers believed that it was given to them by the gods so that they could survive the hunger and cold of these harsh places. The Incas called its wool “golden fleece” or “fleece of the gods”, considered it healing and forbade killing these animals. Vicuñas were caught during royal hunts, sheared and released into the wild, while the number of animals in the wild remained stable. Clothes for high nobles were made from soft, beautiful wool. The Spaniards, having arrived in South America, began to shoot vicuñas in large numbers. This was done mainly for the purpose of obtaining the most expensive and rare wool in the world, although vicuña meat was considered a delicacy.
The number of animals began to fall rapidly: if until the 16th century more than 2 million vicunas lived in the Andes, then by 1965 there were no more than 6 thousand individuals left. But in 1967, the first reserve was created in Peru to protect vicuñas. And after another 5 years, the international organization dedicated to the protection of rare species of animals CITES, under the auspices of the UN, banned the sale of the wool of these animals throughout the world.
Currently, the number of vicunas in nature is about 2 million individuals. In addition, there is an international program for breeding these animals in captivity, in which the Moscow Zoo takes an active part.
Vicunas are very unpretentious in their social behavior. They feed on tough herbaceous vegetation, preferring cereals. The animals are very careful and move in the wild only during daylight hours.
In Moscow, the vicuña lives together with other representatives of camelids of the New World. This is a male who came to this group at the age of one, just at the time when in nature young animals leave the family. He gets along well with his close “relatives”. Vicuna, guanaco, llama and alpaca perfectly understand each other’s “language” and live together: they feed and rest as members of the same group - at the same time and not far from each other.
4. White-tailed wildebeest
The history of the white-tailed wildebeest's relationship with humans is very instructive. Unlike the blue wildebeest, which was widespread on the African continent, the white-tailed wildebeest lived in the very south of Africa. Before the arrival of Europeans in Africa, the indigenous population hunted these antelopes for food, but this did not affect the total number of animals. However, by the 18th century the situation had changed radically. For more than a hundred years, wildebeest were continuously persecuted, especially many animals were killed in the 70s of the 19th century by hunters for skins, which were then sent to Europe. By the end of 1885, researchers doubted whether even one animal remained in nature. Fortunately, enthusiastic farmers have maintained a herd of 300 heads on their lands.
Over the next fifty years, all surviving animals lived only on the territories of private farms. In 1936, several antelopes were released into a hunting reserve, where they successfully took root and began to breed. By the middle of the 20th century, the total number of white-tailed wildebeest reached two thousand. Currently, these animals live both in several protected areas and on private property. All living white-tailed wildebeest are descendants of the 300 individuals that two South African farmers preserved on their lands at the end of the 19th century.
Wildebeest are so unique that once you see this animal, you will always remember it. It has a short and dense body with a sloping back. The head is large, heavy, with a long muzzle, covered with a brush of coarse hair sticking up. A beard under the throat, a tuft of hair between the front legs and a rough mane on the neck and withers. Both sexes have horns. They are smooth, fused at the base and intricately curved. The length of the horns reaches 70-80 cm. The tail is long, white, almost reaching the ground, similar to a horse. The legs are thin with sharp hooves. The body color of the white-tailed wildebeest is dark brown, the mane and beard are almost black, males are somewhat darker than females.
The Moscow Zoo has kept wildebeests since 1992. You can see a group of these animals on the Old Territory next to the Giraffe House, where a large clearing is reserved for them. These antelopes adapt well to cold weather and only come indoors during the day at temperatures below -20°.
5. Guanaco
The guanaco is one of two species of wild humpless camels in the New World. From time immemorial, people hunted this animal for its skin and meat. But the guanaco is not only an object of hunting, it is he who is the ancestor of the domestic humpless camel - the llama. The process of domestication is believed to have begun about 5,000 years ago. The animals were also used as beasts of burden and sheared for wool.
The fact that the guanaco plays a very important role in people's lives is evidenced by the fact that in Argentina there is a city named after this animal - Guanaco.
Now there are few guanacos left, and the numbers of these animals continue to decline. This is due to pastures taken away from guanacos, where livestock are grazed, and poaching, which claims the lives of hundreds of animals every year.
On ranches in the Andes, guanacos are now bred in captivity for their fur, which is used for clothing and jewelry. It resembles fox and is used both natural and dyed.
Interestingly, guanacos have large eyes with long eyelashes and rather large mobile ears. The coat is long, thick, and the color of the upper back and neck is red-brown. The belly, legs and neck below are almost white, the color boundary between dark and light colors is sharply expressed. The guanaco has dark fur on its face and light gray ears. This animal differs from the vicuña, whose muzzle and ears are brownish (the color of the rest of the body is similar). Females are somewhat smaller than males.
Guanaco is a very unpretentious animal. Like all herbivores - inhabitants of harsh places, it feeds on grass, leaves and twigs of bushes, and can go for a long time without water. However, when possible, he drinks regularly, not only fresh, but also brackish water.
Guanacos are very cautious animals and can reach speeds of up to 56 km/h. Guanacos live mainly in the mountains, rising to the snow line, and in the dry season they descend into wet valleys.
At the zoo, a male guanaco lives in the same enclosure with other humpless camels - llama, alpaca and vicuna. The company of humpless camels is “male”; it is quite friendly, despite the animals belonging to different species. They eat next to each other, relax next to each other and understand each other perfectly. Of the whole company, the guanaco is the old-timer. His favorite resting place is a large stone slab in the far right corner of the enclosure. Here the guanaco likes to stand for a long time and look at the street: at people, transport. Or he lies, overlooking his aviary and pond with many birds.
6. Sichuan takin
The only extant species in the genus. The local population of Asia - from China to India, on whose territory these animals live, has long hunted them. The meat was used for food, the skin for clothing or housing. However, intensive hunting was never carried out. Fortunately, no healing properties were attributed to takins, like many other large animals, so they have survived to this day, although they are rare.
A scientific description was made in the mid-19th century; the first living takin came from Burma to the London Zoo back in 1909, but even today this animal in captivity is a rarity. Outside of China, takins are kept in no more than 30 zoos. In Russia, in addition to the Moscow Zoo, takins can be seen in Novosibirsk.
Takin is a very peculiar animal. In its systematic position, it is close to goats and rams, but is more like a small bull with its heavy head with a wide muzzle, powerful, short legs and large dimensions: the body length of the takin is 170-220 cm, the height at the withers is 100-130 cm, the weight is up to 350 kg. Males are larger than females. Animals of both sexes have horns, their length in males can reach 50 cm, and in shape they are similar to wildebeest horns: they are set close at the base, widened and flattened, first extending to the sides, covering the forehead, then bending up and back. The short tail (15-20 cm) is almost invisible under the long coat, which is surprisingly beautiful: thick and especially long on the underside of the body, neck, tail and sides. The hair is thin and richly lubricated, which protects animals from very high humidity and fog.
Takins are one of the least studied ungulates. They are active mainly at dawn and dusk. They stay in small groups in hard-to-reach places. Old males live alone. Takins are very attached to their areas; they are reluctant to leave them even when cutting down forests, hiding in the thickets of bamboo. Takins run quickly, but when caught by surprise, they hide - a behavior rarely found in adult ungulates. Freezing, the takin lies down, stretches his neck, and presses tightly to the ground. He can lie so quiet and still that you can step on him.
Takins are ruminants that, from spring to autumn, prefer grasses, leaves and branches of 130 plant species of high-mountain flora.
They were first brought to the Moscow Zoo from China quite recently, in January 2009, just on the eve of the “Year of the Ox.”
Takins are fed once a day with succulent food (carrots, beets, apples) and always during the day there is dry food in the feeder (alfalfa, forbs, branches).
7. Black antelope
Almost all types of antelope, and the black one is no exception, are desirable prey for humans. In the 19th century Streams of European colonialists poured into Africa, where antelopes live, and grandiose safaris began, which marked the beginning of the extermination of many species of African ungulates. The horns of all representatives of the saber-horned antelope group are still considered a valuable and honorable trophy to this day. By the middle of the 20th century, this circumstance brought almost all species of the group to the brink of extinction. Of the three species of horse antelope, one - the blue antelope - was completely destroyed already at the beginning of the 19th century.
The number of black antelope currently continues to decline. The rarest subspecies, the giant sable antelope, found in Angola, is critically endangered and its numbers are unknown.
In recent years, some South African farmers have begun to raise wild animals rather than livestock on their lands, and the sable antelope may take its rightful place among them. The animal is very expensive, and, according to one of the livestock breeders in South Africa, a person who has a herd of 20 black antelope females is considered very wealthy.
Studying the social relationships of black antelope in nature is extremely difficult, so scientists obtain data from observations of animals kept in nurseries and zoos. Adult females and young live in groups of 10 or more individuals. Moreover, they live on the territory of the male.
A rigid hierarchy is established between the females, to which all members of the group are subordinate. Females can fight fiercely among themselves, sometimes inflicting severe injuries with sharp horns. At the same time, the elders always protect the younger ones from external aggressors, and each female can leave the group for a short time, leaving her cub in the care of the others. Black antelopes are active mainly in the morning and evening hours, and at night and during hot times of the day they rest.
The basis of their diet is herbaceous plants, mainly cereals. They happily eat young shoots and leaves of various shrubs and trees, especially during the dry season. These animals cannot go without water for more than 2-3 days, and usually drink several times a day.
The first two black antelopes appeared at the Moscow Zoo in 1971, they were brought as a gift by employees of a well-known Dutch wildlife trading company. A few months later the offspring appeared. Today, the Moscow Zoo is the only one in the former Soviet Union that has these rare and valuable antelopes in its collection. Moscow animals are listed in the International Stud Book of Black Antelopes and occasionally it is possible to obtain offspring from them.
Breeding these antelopes in zoos poses a number of difficulties due to the complexity of their mineral nutrition and behavior. In a depleted environment, in small enclosures, these animals begin to “get bored” and often become very aggressive towards everyone around them.
Antelopes are fed three times a day. In the morning, the feeders are filled with grass (in winter - with hay). During the day they give cut vegetables and fruits. In the evening there is again grass and branches beloved by animals. The antelopes at the zoo are very trusting of the people who care for them, and there were even cases when females left their cubs to the zoologist to “guard”, while they themselves went for a walk at the far end of the enclosure.
8. Slow loris
Found in forests from eastern India to Vietnam, the Malay Peninsula, western Indonesia and the Philippines, these monkeys are critically endangered.
In slow lorises, all fingers are equipped with nails, with the exception of the second toe, which has a “cosmetic” claw, which is used for “grooming” - mutual combing of fur. Unlike real monkeys, lorises do not have a thumb on their hand, and they cannot grab a tree branch with their whole hand. They move on four limbs, clinging to branches or moving along them. Lories are able to catch an insect in flight with their hand and hold it tightly in their leg, and continue to move further along the branch.
An interesting adaptation for life at high altitude is the unusually strong grip of the hands and feet, which does not weaken throughout the day. This is possible due to the special structure of the blood vessels of the limbs, which provides abundant blood supply and intensive metabolism in the muscles of the limbs during the movement of the animal.
All lorises consume a lot of animal protein in the form of invertebrates, bird eggs, small birds, bats and rodents. The rest of the food consists of plant components: fruits, tree resin (gum), flower nectar. In nature, lorises lead a solitary lifestyle, sleeping in nests during the day, but at night while feeding they often meet with representatives of their own species.
Slow lorises have lived in the Moscow Zoo since 1980 and successfully reproduce. There are now 7 slow lorises in Moscow. They are kept in pairs, and sometimes Senegalese galagos live with them. The diet includes fruits (bananas, grapes, papaya, apples, kiwi, pears, peaches), Baby Dad cereal, boiled chicken, cottage cheese, quail eggs and live insects, that is, they eat very healthy food.
9. Przewalski's horse
In the 50s of the last century, it became clear that the wild horse was disappearing from nature. At the same time, no more than 20 individuals remained in captivity throughout the world.
In 1959, the First International Symposium on the conservation of the Przewalski's horse was held in Prague, where a strategy for collective action to save the endangered species was developed. The system of measures has yielded positive results. According to the international stud book, the world population increased to 200 by 1972, and to 680 by 1985. In the same 1985, it was decided to begin searching for places to return wild horses to nature. A huge amount of work was done, and in 1992 the first horses from the Soviet Union and the Netherlands arrived in Mongolia in the Khustain-Nuru tract. Currently, three populations have already been created in Mongolia. The grandchildren of the first horses released into the wild are already growing up. The total number of free-living Przewalski's horses is approaching 300. They, like their wild ancestors, are able to distinguish edible plants from poisonous ones, find watering holes, protect themselves from wolves and survive difficult winters and droughts.
The Mongols call the Tahiin-Shara-Nuru ridge ("Yellow Ridge of the Wild Horse") the homeland of takhi (as these horses have been called since ancient times), where the horse was most often found. However, this animal has become known to the whole world since 1879, when it was described by the Russian traveler, geographer and naturalist N.M. Przhevalsky, after whom this species is named.
Very little was known about the lifestyle of these horses in nature. At the end of the 19th century, the Russian traveler Grumm-Grzhimailo met these animals several times in the Dzungarian Gobi (Central Asia). He wrote that “a wild horse is an inhabitant of the flat desert, and goes out to graze and drink water at night; with the onset of day, it returns to the desert, where it remains to rest until the sun sets.” More recent studies suggest that the Przewalski's horse has several cycles of wakefulness and rest during the day.
Horses are kept in groups, including one adult male and five to eleven mares with foals. The basis of the diet of wild Asian horses in Dzungaria was cereals: feather grass, wheatgrass, fescue, chii, reed. They ate wormwood, wild onions, and soft parts of various shrubs. Horses experience particular difficulties in winter, when after rain or a strong thaw the air temperature drops sharply and the ground becomes covered with a crust of ice (jute). The hooves begin to slip, the horses cannot break through the ice and reach the grass, and hunger begins.
Horses for the Moscow Zoo were captured in the Dzungarian Gobi. The zoo archive contains information that wild horses have been kept in Moscow since 1917. During this time, several generations of animals have changed, and the zoo is actively involved in the wild horse breeding program.
Horses are fed twice a day - morning and evening. Their main food is hay and oats. They also receive potatoes, carrots, beets, branches, grass, salt lick and a vitamin-mineral premix. The summer diet is 2.5 times more than the winter one. His favorite treat, like all horses, is carrots.
10. Pygmy flying squirrel
Marsupial flying squirrels live in harmony with humans. They are forest dwellers and do not go to cities. They are not hunted and only deforestation can reduce their numbers. Now many lovers keep these funny animals at home, as they are easily tamed and quickly become family favorites. The species is common in the forests of Australia, New Guinea and Tasmania, where the animals prefer eucalyptus thickets.
The animals have a very interesting feature: in an active state, their body temperature reaches 35-36 C. But during sleep, the animals fall into torpor, during which the body temperature drops to 11-28 C. A sharp cold snap or lack of food causes a hibernation-like state , which lasts 2-3 weeks and the temperature drops to 1-6 C.
Common foods in nature are fruits, pollen, and invertebrates. The animals feed at night. They almost never drag food into the nest; they eat in any position: upside down, sitting on their hind legs or leaning on all four limbs (depending on the location of the food).
Flying squirrels are nocturnal animals and their activity begins at sunset. True, individual exits of animals are possible during daylight hours, but they are rarely associated with food and last no more than an hour. The animals are very mobile, easily climbing trees both upside down and upside down. They can hang for a long time, holding onto branches only with their hind legs. Flying squirrels have an amazing ability - gliding flight. They have a special device - a flying membrane, which stretches from the front limb to the ankle joint of the hind paw. Thus, animals can cover distances of up to 60 meters!
Pygmy flying squirrels appeared at the Moscow Zoo in 2000. A small animal caught on the balcony of a residential building in Moscow was brought to the veterinary department of the Moscow Zoo. It turned out that the flying squirrel had landed on the balcony to feast on the cut watermelon standing there. The apartment residents noticed her, caught her and brought her to the zoo. Veterinarians determined that the animal is healthy and can remain in the zoo’s collection. In the same year, another pair of marsupial flying squirrels was received from the Paraguay Zoo, and the first family group was created, which began to reproduce successfully.
The Moscow Zoo is considered one of the largest in the world, and it is impossible to explore it in one or two visits. After all, it contains 7,500 animals of about 1,000 species, which have their own uniqueness and their own exciting history. Even an ordered excursion, which lasts 2-3 hours, will not be able to fully show the fullness of this corner of wildlife in the center of Moscow. After all, rushing through the zoo and reading the signs pointed out by the guide, you cannot learn in detail about this or that animal. Usually, after such trips to the zoo, children remember little. And that’s why we invite you to get acquainted with ten of the most unusual animals that you definitely won’t be able to forget.
Bear - sponger
One of the most interesting representatives of the Moscow Zoo. It can be found immediately after the enclosures where zebras, buffalos and giraffes stroll. This zoo inhabitant is very different from his fellow bears. Its external difference with them is immediately striking. He looks like an overgrown black koala. Its distinctive features are: a rather short but thick body, large feet and short legs, a funny elongated muzzle with large protruding lips, fluffy protruding ears, a glossy black coat color and a V-shaped, white mark on the chest. The most amusing thing about the bear is the way it controls itself and moves its huge lips. He either stretches them out, and they seem very long, then he rolls them up, and then there is a feeling that they are absent at all, then he sticks them out, forming the letter “O” with them, which resembles a trunk. If you watch this animal for a long time, you will notice that the sloth bear almost never growls. More often he makes sounds that are more akin to grunting or snoring, which along with his lips make him look more like a boar than a bear. Children will really like this animal, because how can you find a “grunting” bear anywhere else except in the Moscow Zoo.
Lesser (red) panda
These animals can no longer be found in any Russian zoo. You can find them between the enclosures of the Himalayan and brown bears. These animals are often called "Red Panda" because of their fiery color. The red panda will be very interesting for children. Because it was this animal that became the main character in the acclaimed cartoon “Kung Fu Panda”. Small pandas are slightly larger than a cat and have an elongated body. They have a wide head with a short, sharp muzzle and pointed ears. The animals have a very fluffy red tail with inconspicuous light rings. But what immediately catches your eye is the unique pattern on the red panda’s face.
David's Deer
The Moscow Zoo has a rare species of deer - David's deer. This animal is considered almost extinct and does not live in the wild. All remaining David's deer live only in zoos around the world. At the moment, the Moscow Zoo has one male and almost a dozen females.
The history of this species is interesting. David's deer got its name in honor of its “savior” - the French priest, naturalist and missionary Armand David. He met these animals in China. Even then they were endangered. A few individuals lived in the garden of the Chinese emperor. These rare animals were sent as gifts to the monarchs of Great Britain, Germany and France. They could not survive either in France or in Germany. Only a few remain alive in Britain. They are believed to be the ancestors of modern David's deer.
David's deer will also surprise you with the fact that, unlike his fellow deer, he loves to stay in the water for a long time and is an excellent swimmer. In addition, he can change horns 2 times a year.
Maned wolf
Walking past the enclosure of this animal, your child may confuse it with a fox, because unlike other wolves, the maned wolf has a red color and a light-colored tail tip. Therefore, it is worth explaining to your child that if you look closely, you will notice the difference: this “fox” has very long paws. The height of a maned wolf at the withers can reach one meter. The unusually long legs are clearly asymmetrical to the rather short body. The rather long, high, pointed ears and elongated muzzle are also disproportionate.
The maned wolf got its name because of the elongated hair (mane) on the withers. When he gets angry, this fur stands up in a tuft and gives the animal an aggressive, threatening appearance.
Maned wolves cannot tolerate competition. They are terrible owners and therefore are kept separately in the Moscow Zoo.
Irbis, or snow leopard
There is another rather interesting “tenant” in the zoo, which I think should be seen. The main character of the cartoon “Kung Fu Panda” has already been mentioned above - another hero of this cartoon lives in the Moscow Zoo. Irbis, or Snow Leopard, is the main negative character of the cartoon. It will also please those who are passionate about technology and programming. Indeed, in 2009, Apple released the operating system Mac OS X 10.6, which is codenamed Snow Leopard. The snow leopard will be very interesting for children who play and are interested in sports. After all, the Kazan hockey club “Ak Bars” is named after the snow leopard. It was also the snow leopard cub that became the mascot of the 2011 Asian Winter Games.
The snow leopard is a fairly large animal with a long, bushy tail. The snow leopard, unlike its other brothers, has rather long fur. And his body is decorated with black spots and patterns. The background color of the snow leopard is white-gray, without shades of red or yellow.
The snow leopard population at the moment is catastrophically small. It is listed in the Red Book. There are now about 150-200 individuals in Russia
Little loris
The little loris is one of the funniest residents of the Moscow Zoo. His appearance is very pretty, his huge bottomless eyes simply make you fall in love with this animal. The bright orange color of the coat, a small body and a black stripe along it are the distinctive features of the animal. With its size it looks more like a small toy than a living creature. These animals prefer solitude. It is also interesting that these animals do not use sound, but postures to communicate with each other.
If your children love the cartoon "Madagascar", then they will find similarities between the Little Loris and the cute and timid lemur Mort.
Indian lion
All children dream of visiting the king of beasts, right? Moreover, if he is one of the main characters of the cult cartoon “The Lion King”. It was the Indian lion - Scar - who was the most important negative hero of this cartoon.
All lions are now under the protection of the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Indian lions are listed as endangered in the Red Book. At the moment, no more than 200 individuals of royal blood live in the wild.
An interesting fact is that in ancient times Indian lions lived on the territory of modern Russia. There is a legend that in Rus' the last Indian lion was killed by Prince Igor in the 10th century.
Takin
This is an artiodactyl mammal that is not like its fellows. Takin has large eyes and mouth, small ears. It is covered with thick, dense, golden-gray fur. But the most amazing thing is that the horns of these animals, unlike other horned animals, are close to each other and have a flat shape. The animal seems very asymmetrical and somehow irregular.
Now in Europe there are only 5 zoos that have these animals: in Moscow, Paris, Montpellier, Rotterdam and Berlin. Therefore, do not miss the opportunity to show your children such a rare character.
Lama
The appearance of the llamas is also quite funny. A small head with sharp, erect ears and small eyes is located on a thin neck, which emerges from a large, oval body, abundantly covered with white-brown dense hair.
Children may confuse this animal with a camel, but do not let them be mistaken, even if the difference is only the lack of a hump in the llama and different colors.
Photo source: Sadchikov Pavel / AiF, RIA Novosti, globallookpress.com
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