Presentation. 6th grade. Moscow Zoo

Moscow Zoo

Highlights

The Moscow Zoo, one of the oldest on the European continent, is located in the heart of the Russian capital – not far from the Garden Ring, between Krasnaya Presnya, Bolshaya Gruzinskaya and Zoologicheskaya streets. On its vast territory, in pavilions, ponds, aviaries, more than eight thousand animals live, representing almost a thousand species of fauna inhabiting our planet.

The Moscow Zoo has long gained international fame due to its innovative activities, its zoologists have bred several unique breeds of animals. The zoo takes part in prestigious international eco-programs for the conservation of endangered species

of fauna, is a member of the World and European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA and EAZA), the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAPAZA).

The symbol of the Moscow Zoo until 2014 was a wild cat-manul. After the change of leadership, the symbol was changed to an abstract image of pelicans, squirrels, dolphins and pigeons. In 2019, for the 155th anniversary, the zoo returned manul as a logo.

Zoological Park, which became popular among Muscovites in the XIX century, is conditionally divided into Old and New territory, connecting them with a Bridge overhanging Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street. Both territories are perfectly equipped for a comfortable stay of visitors. There are many green areas with flower beds, cafes, comfortable benches in the shade, fountains with filtered drinking water. Several dozen expositions with animals are scattered throughout the zoo and represent individual geographical regions of their habitat, zoological families, and species. At each of the expositions, you can spend more than one hour watching our well-fed and well-groomed younger brothers, who surprisingly feel at ease in the very center of a huge metropolis.

History of the Moscow Zoo

The Moscow Zoo traces its history back to February 12, 1864 (January 31, old style). On this day, the zoo was pompously opened on Presnensky Ponds, which soon became one of the most attractive and visited corners of Moscow. Actually, Presnensky ponds have long been popular among Muscovites: at the end of the XVIII century, the royal menagerie was located here, and at the beginning of the XIX century, the real privy councilor Peter Valuev, who acquired the property of the reservoirs and the land around them, brought the "Presnensky Festivities"to the city tradition. Then the land near Presnensky Ponds with its green hills, water meadows and blooming gardens was allocated to the Imperial Russian Society for the Acclimatization of Animals and Plants for the arrangement of a zoo. The origins of its creation were Russian biologists – professors of Moscow University Karl Roulier, Anatoly Bogdanov and Sergey Usov.

Not only professional biologists, but also amateur naturalists from different strata of Moscow society reacted with enthusiasm to the creation of the zoo.

By the time of opening, the zoo already had a "living collection" of three hundred wild and domestic animals, representing mainly the fauna of the Russian Empire

The maintenance of the zoo was a troublesome and expensive business, and it owed its fairly prosperous existence mainly to patrons. For example, Emperor Alexander II gave the zoo an Indian elephant, Grand Duke Konstantin-a rhinoceros, Vice-Sultan of Egypt Ismail Pasha-a zebra, Rear Admiral Ivan Butakov, commander of the frigate "Svetlana", who returned from a trip around the world, – exotic animals of the Australian continent, abbot of the Valaam Monastery Father Damaskin – Ladoga seals and reindeer. A large group of animals came from the Paris Acclimatization Garden.

The purpose of creating a zoo was not only to demonstrate the diversity of the animal world of the planet. There was also an experimental base for scientific and practical work. On the basis of crossing domestic and imported animals from abroad, new, elite breeds were bred, they could be purchased at exhibitions periodically arranged in the zoo.

The Moscow Zoo did not stop working during the Great Patriotic War. Its dedicated employees did not leave their pets unattended even during air raids, calming the frightened animals with their presence and care. In the 50s and 70s, Igor Sosnovsky, known for his articles and books about animals and the zoo itself, was in charge of the management, thanks to which the popularity of the menagerie grew from year to year.

By the 90s, the zoo was noticeably dilapidated, and it was decided to conduct a general reconstruction here. In the course of the work, more than five dozen spacious dwellings for animals were built, and most of the engineering communications were updated. At the same time, new expositions were opened, where animals that had not previously been shown in the zoo appeared. At the same time, a zoo nursery for the reproduction of rare, valuable and endangered species of animals was established in the Moscow region. Today it boasts such "rarities" as Far Eastern leopards, Trans-Baikal manuls, cheetahs, Amur tigers, Middle Chinese red wolves, blue sheep, the collection continues to grow.

Old territory

The first thing that guests of the Moscow Zoo see after passing the main entrance is a Large pond. The reservoir is famous not only for the huge number of waterfowl birds, but also for its history, which dates back to the year of the zoo's foundation. For more than 150 years, the shape of its shores and islands has certainly changed, but birds still live here all year round. The water in the pond is regularly cleaned and aerated, and in winter, powerful compressors support the ice-free wormwood.

The Night World Pavilion is also located on the Old territory of the Moscow Zoo. Its premises are located in a cave, where it is quiet, dark, and the "moon" shines. Here you can observe the nocturnal life of animals: rodents, small mammals, amphibians, birds. Descending the steps to the cave, you will visit the corners that imitate the nature of the canyons of the Andes, savanna, African desert, jungles of Southeast Asia, forests of Australia, Siberian taiga. The inhabitants of the "Night World" are small creatures, almost invisible in nature, but the enclosures are arranged in such a way that visitors have the opportunity to see the animals, whose shelters are lit with a dim light, allowing the animals and birds to feel safe.

New Territory

After crossing the Bridge, you will find yourself in a New territory, near a pond with islands overgrown with wild shrubs. Waterfowl live here all year round, only the most heat-loving of them move to closed pavilions for the winter. Here live such rare birds as white-cheeked cossacks, gogols, black-necked swans. In mid-spring, after the ice melts, turtles crawl out to warm themselves on the shore, and flocks of well-fed carp rise to the water surface.

Go a little further, to the north, and you will find yourself in the corner of the Moscow Zoo, where the animals inhabiting the African savanna are represented. Here you can admire the graceful giraffes, see the zebra Grevi – the largest and most beautiful of all the species of these striped horses, the spectacular black antelope, the African ostrich – the largest bird in the world, whose weight reaches 150 kg.

The Moscow Zoo has its own children's theater "Tick-tock". From mid-autumn to mid-spring, young artists give performances in the theater, and in the warm season, performances are held on the open stage of the Children's Zoo (so far it is under reconstruction).

Throughout the year, the zoo staff organizes many holidays, including "Zoo Birthday", "Tiger Day", "Bird Day", "Earth Day", and cheerfully celebrate the New Year here. Holidays are held with the participation of clowns, collectives of life-size dolls, folklore groups. Souvenirs and prizes with the emblems of the Moscow Zoo are prepared for young spectators.

Entertainment and holidays

On the Old territory of the Moscow Zoo, perhaps its most famous place is located – the pony riding circle. Muscovites of different generations probably have a photo card in their family album, where they proudly sit astride this charming animal. Today, in the middle of the circle stands a Christmas tree, planted many years ago, it is beautifully decorated for the New Year holidays.

In 2014, the Moscow Zoo celebrated its 150th anniversary. During the year, a large-scale reconstruction took place, which gradually updated the appearance of the zoo.

The most notable change was the reconstruction of the ponds on the Old Site and the pony riding circle. In addition, the Moscow Zoo has renovated 19 enclosures, including those for animals of South America and Australia, all the internal enclosures of the Monkey House, for nutria, otters, and rebuilt enclosures for wolverines, "Bird Row". In the previously empty premises, the exhibitions "Tropical Forest and the mysterious world of amphibians", "The Amazing World of reptiles“ were opened. Open Greenhouse — more than 100 species of tropical plants and several dozen species of exotic fauna. Another anniversary event was an international conference with the participation of professionals from 31 countries. As part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the museum and exhibition center "Worker and Collective farm" of the museum and exhibition association "Manege", the exhibition " How to build a zoo?»