The Leningrad Zoological Park - the only sanctuary of a unique fauna in the region of the same name, is the property of the state. He has a rich history, because he is one of the first, based on the territory of Russia. The area of the ecological park is a little more than seven hectares, but the collection of species is striking in its diversity.
The total number of living creatures living on its territory is estimated at approximately 600 species, which are represented by interesting individuals of rare animals. However, the article will focus mainly on the history of this unique place; photos of the St. Petersburg Zoo are presented in the article. Among them will be presented some unique inhabitants.
Geolocation
The St. Petersburg Zoo is located in the historical center of the Petrograd district, in the large Alexander Park. You can get to it comfortably by reaching the Sportivnaya or Gorkovskaya metro stations, as the ecological zoo has two exits.
Foundation History
The St. Petersburg Zoo, which today is called the Leningrad Zoological Park, is the oldest in the Russian Federation. It was created inside the large Alexander Park in the 65th year of the XIX century, therefore, it fits closely into the history of the city itself. The buildings built before the revolution were not preserved, but in general the map of the area did not change. The entrance, called the “New”, was designed and built by the famous architect Strukov.
The first animals of the St. Petersburg zoo were bears, tigers, lions, as well as some species of small predators, birds and exotic parrots. The hosts in those days were the Gebgardt couple.
Blessed time
The time period from 1873 to 1897 was the real heyday of the St. Petersburg Zoo. The second husband of Sophia Gebgardt, whose last name was Rost, cared well for the development of family affairs, so that the number of specimens of wild animals increased to 1161. The zoo existed with funds from the theater and restaurant located on its territory. To make animal living conditions even better, various ethnographic exhibitions have been held since 1879.
Decline
Under the strict guidance of Rost, things were going well, but in 1898, due to his health, he could no longer hold the reins in his own hands. This led the zoological park to decline, and in 1909 it had to be closed. However, the government at that time was just thinking about creating a scientific zoological garden that would become the pride of royal St. Petersburg. They even wanted to transfer it from Alexandrovsky Park to Udelny.
New Age and Change of Host
The Russian actor of the drama theater S.N. Novikov, by the will of fate, who became the owner of the St. Petersburg Zoo, took up the matter vigorously, and first he repaired the enclosures and dug a new spacious pond for aquatic representatives of the fauna. Animals acquired at that time managed to survive the revolution, and some managed to survive the Great Patriotic War, for example, a hippo named Beauty. That's just the elephant Betty, who was very fond of city children, died during the blockade on the night of the Nazi raid on September 9, 1941.
Pride of the USSR
With the advent of Soviet power, the St. Petersburg Zoo became a public asset. In 1918, the Scientific Council was appointed, responsible for all household, environmental and professional issues. A library with specialized literature appeared, as well as a circle of the "Young Zoologist", which operates today.
In 1932, it was possible to establish a population of polar bears, which before that in captivity practically did not breed. That is why the emblem of the St. Petersburg Zoo depicts this unique animal, which in nature is on the verge of extinction. In 1940, the Leningrad Ecological Zoo turned 75 years old, and an additional plot of 171 hectares “cut off” from the Specific Park became a gift. However, it was not possible to master new lands - the war prevented. In those terrible years, the zoo went badly, and many areas suffered from the bombing. However, despite the unbearable blockade conditions, the zoo did not close.
After the war
Ministers at the cost of their own lives preserved many species of animals, and even managed to increase the population. Often they didn’t eat themselves, but wards, at least, but fed. In addition, zoological scientists traveled outside the park to give lectures. That is why, in memory of the difficult conditions of the blockade and the feat of the employees of the zoo, the name remained Soviet.
Already in 1944, the Leningrad Zoo was completely open to visitors, and active restoration work was being carried out in the places of destruction. In the 50s new inhabitants arrived on the territory of the ecological park, and by the 100th anniversary it received the status of the best zoo of the USSR.
Reconstruction
By the variety of species, the Leningrad Zoo was the leader among other similar institutions, however, many buildings were pretty destroyed. Due to this problem, in 1967 a large-scale reconstruction began, which was supposed to fit into the “five-year plan”.
The general plan assumed the demolition of old buildings and the construction of new ones, so the case was pretty long. This directly affected the collection, since at the time of the work, elephants and hippos were transferred to other zoos of the immense Soviet Union. But returning them was not so simple.
New time
It was hard for everyone in the 90s, so the construction of the terrarium that was started in 1996 was left without funding. And only in 2007 the building was rebuilt and open to visitors under the name "Exotarium". Within its walls you can admire fish, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and other amphibians. In 2015, a collection commemorative coin dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Leningrad Zoo was released.