The contact zoo is a place where animals are kept, which a person can feed, hold in his hands and stroke, and not just look at them from afar. As a rule, animals that do not pose a danger to humans live here: rabbits, pigs, goats, chickens, ducklings, raccoons, lambs, roe deer, turtles, ponies, alpacas, guinea pigs, chinchillas, hedgehogs, peacocks, parrots, foxes and many others.
Types of Contact Zoos
Several types of contact zoos in St. Petersburg can be distinguished, depending on the animals they contain: resembling a large rural farm, exotic ones containing insects or reptiles.
Contact zoos open in various places. The basic rule of such zoological institutions is that they specialize in keeping specific animals. In such parks it is allowed to feed animals, but their food is specialized, and is sold on the premises of the institution. Here you can also take pictures with your favorite animals.
The cost of a ticket to contact zoos in St. Petersburg varies from 100 to 500 rubles, for children admission is either free or they are given discounts on a ticket.
Contact Zoos in St. Petersburg
1. Contact zoo at the Museum of Illusions. One of the largest museum of illusions in Russia is working on Bolshaya Morskaya. Here you can stroll through the glass maze, visit the giant, enjoy the nature of the garden with butterflies, play with cartoon characters. The museum is complemented by a mini zoo where you can chat, feed and take pictures with raccoons, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas. The address where you can find this contact zoo: St. Petersburg, Bolshaya Morskaya street, 5.
2. “Living Key” is both a botanical garden, an oceanarium, and a zoo. Its distinguishing feature is that all visitors participate in mini-excursions, where they are told about the fauna and flora of a particular natural area. The park space is divided into several zones in which the corresponding inhabitants are settled: birds, hedgehogs, rodents, reptiles, inhabitants of the seas and all kinds of butterflies. You can visit the zoo by appointment only. Located "Living Key" at the address: st. Rubinstein, d. 2-45, St. Petersburg.
3. "Forest Embassy" - a zoo, which is located in the shopping and entertainment complex "Montpensier". Here you can see and chat with foxes, bats, chickens, parrots, owls, rabbits, iguanas. Each child becomes a citizen of this zoological state, which has its own constitution. The child-citizen is explained his rights and obligations and, most importantly, the rules of conduct. You can get to the state "Forest Embassy" by arriving at ul. Glider, d. 59, shopping center "Montpensier", 3rd floor.
4. “Life with Cold Blood” is an exposition located under the roof of the Exomenu store. Visitors are presented only cold-blooded representatives of the fauna. You can take a closer look at the crocodile or iguana, say hello to the gecko, pet a snake or a turtle, play a game to find a chameleon. In addition, in this place you can admire exotic butterflies and other insects. The peculiarity of this contact zoo is that the animals you like can be purchased. The exposition is located on Promyshlennaya street, 5.
5. “Bugagashechka” - among the inhabitants of this park live pigeons, dwarf rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, turtles, bats, lizards, frogs, scorpions, centipedes, spiders, a lot of birds and various butterflies. You can play with animals, take pictures, pet them or feed them. The address at which this contact zoo is located: St. Petersburg, Komendantsky Lane, 11.
6. "Rainbow" - this menagerie is located near St. Petersburg, in the city Zelenogorsk Park of Culture and Rest. Here animals live in specialized open pens. In the park you can chat with peacocks, chinchillas, squirrels, rabbits, donkeys, dwarf goats, a cow and even Cameroon goats.
7. Exotic zoo on Fucika street, 2 - the park is designed in such a way that visitors can stroll through the rainforest. Animals live in conditions close to their natural habitat.
Contact Zoos Reviews
Reviews about contact zoos in St. Petersburg are only positive, children are especially delighted to feed their new friends. Many visitors return to their favorite places to chat with their favorites again. Parents are most happy about their accessibility and diversity in such zoos. In addition, many mothers and fathers note how beneficial it is for children to communicate with animals, observe and care for them.
The healing functions of tactile communication with animals
Tactile communication with animals has a therapeutic effect on humans. Even the ancient Greeks healed depression with horseback riding. Stroking a cat is known to relieve tension and stress, and in many cases headaches (the treatment method was popular in ancient Egypt). Indians used birdsong to cheer up. In the history of mankind there are a lot of examples of zootherapy, because animals are not only our lesser brothers, but also our healers. That is why residents and guests of the city should visit at least one contact zoo in St. Petersburg. Addresses of institutions are presented in our article.