The Moscow Zoo was founded in 1864 by a group of professor-biologists, K.F. Rulje, S.A. Usov and A.P. Bogdanov, from the Moscow State University. In 1919, the zoo was nationalized. In 1922, the ownership was transferred to the city of
The zoo had an area of 
In 1990, the zoo was renovated. Notable additions include a new main entrance in the shape of a large rock castle, and a footbridge that connected the old (1864) and new (1926) properties of the zoo. Prior to construction of the footbridge, the zoo operated as two 'separate zoos' because the
In addition, the zoo was expanded once more. New exhibits were opened including a sea aquarium, an aviary, a creatures of the night exhibit, a sea lion exhibit and a section aimed at children. Waterfalls and streams were added throughout to give the zoo a more natural feeling.
The 
The zoo studies animals behaviour, feeding and reproduction, and breeds rare endangered species.
The following species are kept in captivity:
- Marsupial (Marsupialia)
- Didelphimorphia (Didelphidae)
- Dasyuromorphia (Dasyuridae)
- Macropod (Macropodidae)
- Insectivora (Insectivora)
- Erinaceidae (Erinaceidae)
- Elephant shrew (Macroscelididae)
- Treeshrew (Tupaiidae)
- Bat (Chiroptera)
- Megabat (Pteropodidae)
- Primate (Primates)
- Lemuridae (Lemuridae)
- Lorisidae (Lorisidae)
- Cebidae (Cebidae)
- (Callithricidae)
- Old World monkey (Cercopithecidae)
- Hominid (Pongidae)
- Xenarthra (Edentata)
- Sloth (Bradypodidae)
- Armadillo (Dasypodidae)
- Lagomorpha (Lagomorpha)
- Leporidae (Leporidae)
- Rodent (Rodentia)
- Carnivora (Carnivora)
- Pinniped (Pinnipedia)
- Proboscidea (Proboscidea)
- Elephant (Elephantidae)
- Odd-toed ungulate (Perissodactyla)
- Equidae (Equidae)
- Even-toed ungulate (Artiodactyla)
- Suidae (Suidae)
- Camelid (Camelidae)
- Deer (Cervidae)
- Giraffidae (Giraffidae)
- Bovid (Bovidae)
Hello. You are expected by excursion on the
The first that visitors see, having entered into a zoo through the main input - it is the Big pond.
The basic part of a collection of waterfowls of the
Having passed it is possible to see a flamingo further.
In Old territory, nearby that of the Big pond, is pavilion «Cat of tropics», white tigers and jaguars there live, near to it a number an open-air cage under the name «Cat's number». Irbis, a dalnevostochniy leopard, lynxes, manul and karakal live here. Elegant cheetahs live in an open-air cage, located between a rock of birds of prey and pavilion «Cat of tropics».
Near to pavilion «Cat of tropics» to be the open-air cage where in a warm season visitors can see ochkovih bears - inhabitants of the South America.
In the heart of old territory of a zoo there is a yellow two-storeyed building. This building «the House of a giraffe», under the name of its brightest inhabitant. The giraffe, a black antelope and borodavochniky live here.
It is possible to see giraffes, black antelopes and borodavochniky also in New territory of a zoo where they live in a spacious complex – Hoofed animals of
The most rare, white-tailed gnus contain in a zoo. The open-air cage where there live these hoofed animals, is near to «the House of a giraffe». The group consists of the adult male and several females. Tapirs adjoin with white-tailed.
Different representatives of family psoviy – relatives of dogs live on the contrary open-air cages with musky bulls. African gienoviye dogs, South American grivistiye wolves, red wolves, koiot or a meadow wolf live here.
A little small an open-air cage are located behind a complex with grivistiye wolves. A horse Przhevalsky and kiangi live in them now.
The big pool for lastonogye is located opposite to the Elephant house. Eared seals, the Californian sea lions and walruses live in pavilion lastonogye there.
Delphinarium of the
In the program of performance a dolphin afalin and polar whales of white whales, stories and lectures about features of behaviour and biology kitoobraznih.
Representation lasts 20-25 minutes, depending on weather and a zoo operating mode in day is spent from 2 to 8 representations.
Having passed almost all Old territory, you get to one of the most favourite pavilions – to the House of birds. More than 70 kinds of the most different, basically, exotic, birds lives here. the African ostriches and horned ravens. A grey African parrot, a herbalist, Humboldt's penguins etc. live here. Having risen on the second floor of pavilion, you have an opportunity to get acquainted with numerous birds of tropics. Who here only is not present – and unusual pigeons, and has sung, both posing, and fantastic "bluebird of happiness" - blue irena. Here – the noisy company of multi-coloured parrots lory. The spacious open-air cage on the second floor – «the Winter garden» - reminds a rainforest corner – here is both streamlets, and footpaths, and thickets of plants among which flit and run various exotic birds of South East Asia.
Nearby cranes live in open-air cages. It is possible to name cranes without exaggeration one of pearls of a collection of animals of the Moscow zoo. From 14 kinds of world fauna in a zoo eight are presented: Indian, Japanese, sterh, chernosheyniy, daurskiy, krasavka, a paradise crane and east crowned.
In the big yellow-blue building constructed in east style, there is an Elephant house. Three Asian elephants: one male and two females live here. The new building of an elephant house openly in 2003. It has been provided very much for comfortable residing of animals: in open-air cages there is a shower, a fountain, pool. Spacious street an open-air cage it is filled up by sand what very to be pleasant to elephants. Visitors can see pupils all-the-year-round: in the summer – in the street, in the winter – indoors.
Herd bakers lives in an open-air cage located opposite to the Small pond.
Following open-air cages will transfer us to Africa, kisteuhiye pigs live here. Kamerunskiy subspecies contains in the Moscow zoo, animals of these subspecies the largest and beautiful.
Further there live a musk oxen, or musky bulls - the sluggish animals who have acquired a dense long wool with wide strong hoofs.
Behind an open-air cage of musky bulls rocks are visible – there there live snow goats. They are inhabitants of Rocky mountains of the North America.
Driving circle on a pony
Hardly probable not the most known place in a zoo – a driving circle on a pony. There are pictures of happy children on carts near to a pony in many families. The driving circle on a pony and now is on the same place, only in the centre the big fur-tree which dress up for New year has grown. Near to it the panther modeled by the well-known sculptor of V.Vataginym is stolen. Visitors can admire here wonderful colours in a warm season, up to frosts.
Children roll on horses and a pony and top, and in vehicles. In the snow winter a vehicle replace with sledge.
Rock of birds of prey
There is in Old territory of a zoo an exposition with the severe name "Rock". It four high spacious open-air cages is located in which one of the largest representatives of a kingdom of birds of prey contain round artificial mountain with numerous grottoes and balconies a ring. The pair breeding beloplechih sea eagles occupies a separate open-air cage. Visitors can get acquainted with a white-tailed sea eagle, and also their relative - a live symbol of the USA – a white-headed sea eagle in the biggest open-air cage adjoining to it. You can see black signature stamps and white-headed sip here. Andskiy kondor contains in a following open-air cage. The most known feathery predators - steppe eagles and eagles-burial grounds are presented in the open-air cage next to it.
Fauna of Russia
Visitors of a zoo can get acquainted with some representatives of domestic fauna on an exposition «Fauna of Russia», located a half ring behind the Tree of fairy tales in Old territory of a zoo. You can see a hare, a greatest owl – the West Siberian eagle owl, dlinnohvostaya and bearded neyasity, a squirrel, various small sparrow birds, a sable and a marten, a raven, wolf, a beaver and his castle.
The night world
The pavilion «Night world» is located in Old territory of a zoo, near to «the Tree of fairy tales».
Inhabitants of "the Night world» - beings small, imperceptible and, in the majority, малоизученные. Even zoologists seldom manage to observe them in the nature. Open-air cages are arranged in such a manner that visitors can see having a rest animals, and at animals the sensation of safety remains: one party of refuges is opened and turned to viewing glass, the hole is highlighted by a red lamp.
Basically on an exposition rodents – the animals possessing surprising teeth who grow during all lives are presented, and from a heavy use are only pointed. They live everywhere … You can see a chinchilla, degu, cape dogonogy, thorny mice, two kinds peschanka – Persian, big and midday peschanka, mokko, a house opossum, a punchan etc.
Few steps away from a front entrance, on the right, there is "the South America". You can see a guanaco, a llama, a kapibara in this open-air cage. When warmly, in an open-air cage let out the South American birds.
"Australia" begins behind an open-air cage with animals of the South America. Bennet's kangaroo and large not flying birds emu breed live and successfully there.
Transitive the bridge
From Old territory of the Zoo on New (it has opened in 1924) it is possible to pass on to the transitive bridge which "hangs" over the Big Georgian street. Raccoons live at its basis from outside Old territory. The most northern live in the world of a monkey – the Japanese macaques, or snow monkeys live in the next open-air cage.
Nearby is an open-air cage with soika and forty. Having risen on the bridge decorated with sculptures of the known animal painter And. M.Belashova, you can admire a picturesque panorama of New territory where is both hills, and ponds. But before descent be late at the glazed niche – here there live unusual animals from the South America. Idlers, battleships and large bats – flying foxes who live in South East Asia Here settle down.
On the contrary, the small live in pool ushastiye seals - northern fur seals.
The pond of New territory is allocated with an abundance of the islands which have grown with a bush. Beloschokiye kazarky and gogoly rare on a pond of new territory. Chernocheyniye swans, white geese and many other waterfowls live on a pond of New territory.
Having gone down from the transitive bridge, and bending around a pond on the right, in open-air cages it is possible to see otters and nosuh.
The exposition «the Polar world» exists in a zoo from the moment of opening of New territory on October, 3rd, 1926. The project of architect K.K.Gippius the then was very progressive, the complex was the big serious construction. For years shape its open-air cage equipped with modern conveniences and improved. But still inhabitants of the extreme North - polar owls and polar bears here live. Polar bears contain in a zoo for a long time, and successfully breed, the first bear cub was born in 1889.
Near to a pond of New territory of a zoo the artificial rock rises, or «Turja a hill» which inhabitants in the nature live in mountains, often rising to the bottom border of glaciers. Now on «Turej to a hill» contain two kinds of mountain hoofed animals – vintorogiy a goat, or marhur and the Dagestan round.
The small pond closely adjoining pavilion «Fauna of Indonesia» there is in New territory of a zoo. This exposition is called "Bog" and it has been created in the late twenties the last century. Today this small water area is made in the full order of cormorants and pelicans, which in the Moscow zoo two kinds – a curly pelican and a pink pelican. For the winter when the reservoir freezes, birds translate in warm internal open-air cages of the next pavilion «Fauna of Indonesia».
Fauna of Indonesia
Pavilion, the high which glass roof from apart draws attention locate in New territory behind a pond, near to Turej the hill and Island of animals. Its name – «the Fauna of Indonesia» – describes not all inhabitants of this pavilion and not to the full reflects all variety of the animals presented to it.
In the first open-air cage ducks of those kinds who do not contain on open ponds swim. With the bright multi-coloured colouring and the form of feathers are sharply allocated mandarinky and karolinky. You can see beloshokaya shilohvost and a duck shirokonoska, teals in the same open-air cage.
Every possible herons, ibises, kolpicy, seagulls, karavaiky live in the next an open-air cage adjoining pavilion. From herons in a zoo grey, Egyptian, yellow herons are presented.
Insectopija
The first insectariy has appeared still in
The animals presented on it are picked up so that to show to visitors various aspects of fitness to a life at arthropods of animals and their variety.
The exposition opens kinds of insects that is living near to the person. Black cockroaches (Blatta orientalis), a house cricket (Acheta domestica), the American cockroach (Periplaneta americana), new Guinean palochnik (Eurycantha calcarata), palochnik-listovidka (Phyllium celebicus), raznokryliy huge palochnik heteropterix (Heteropterix dilatata) or as it still name – «the nymph of jungle», cave crickets (Phaeophilacris bredoides), listovidniye grasshoppers of sort Mecopoda, a huge locust (Tropidacris collaris), a bug-frigate (Polposipus herculeanus), big pink pticeyed (Lasiodora parahybana) are presented in a terrarium.
The unique exposition «the Museum of an earthworm» tells about a variety, a way of life and value rains worms.
The constant expositions of tropical butterflies two first in Russia have been created in
In a tropical garden it is possible to see casting metal blue morph Morpho peleides, elegant black-red sailing vessels of Rumjantseva Papilio rumanzovia and elegant sailing vessels-politov Papilio polytes and perantov Papilio peranthus, snow-white ideas Idea leuconoe and it is gentle-salatovyh siproet Siproeta stelenes.
On trunks it is possible to make out masked «under a bark» surprising owl's butterflies, or kaligo Caligo memnon, pavlinoglazka the atlas (Attacus atlas), wood maidens Parthenos sylvia sylvia and butterflies-postmen, or gelikoniy Heliconius melpomene. The exposition Invertebrate in the Moscow zoo is not limited to an exhibition "Insektopija". In pavilion Ekzotarium located in the neighbourhood it is possible to see expositions of public insects: the South American ants-listorezov and earthen bumblebees Bombus terrestris.
Open-air cages of deer, horses Przhevalsky and camels are in New territory behind Island of animals.
Between pavilion «Hoofed animals of Africa» and open-air cages with wild horses, camels, deer the island of animals rises. Ekzotarium occupies the top part of island and almost all "interior" with its wonderful sea aquariums and with the equipment supporting cleanliness of sea water. Lions, hyenas, bears, tigers live on island perimetre. Bears on "island" three kinds: brown, Himalaya and gubach. «The tsar of animals» - a lion in the Moscow zoo of the rare, Asian subspecies. The striped hyenas presented on an exposition, not such strong, in the nature eat basically drop, the small or weakened animals, insects and reptiles. The Amur tiger living in an open-air cage with falls, - the representative of the largest and, perhaps, the brightest on the Earth tigers. The quantity of the Amur tigers in world zoos now considerably exceeds number of the tigers living at liberty. The Moscow zoo actively participates in work on cultivation of the Amur tigers.
Ekzotarium
Pavilion "Ekzotarium" is located in New territory and occupies 2 and 3 floors of pavilion «Island of animals». Having entered into Ekzotarium, you appear in a dark hall where in brightly shined aquariums landscapes of a coral reef are reproduced.
Collections of Ekzotariuma (about 100 kinds reef fishes) by quantity of kinds of fishes it is quite comparable with the impoverished reeves located on borders of a tropical zone. At the same time, in it various kinds of fishes from reeves of Silent, Indian and Atlantic oceans are collected.
A corner of the African savanna, the most surprising place on the Earth where from one point it is possible to see simultaneously some kinds of large hoofed animals, is in New territory of a zoo. There nearby giraffes, various antelopes and zebras perfectly get on.
Giraffes, zebras and a black antelope as any neighbours, communicate, play, and sometimes and quarrel with each other in the Moscow zoo. Young giraffes have arrived to a zoo from Africa in the end of 2004, now they already have completely acclimatised, are not afraid of people and as all their relatives, are very sociable. In an open-air cage live borodavochniky – pigs of the African savannas. A family surikat lives in a separate open-air cage in the African savanna since August, 2009. They can be seen in a street open-air cage, left from an input in pavilion in the summer. In the winter they translate in an internal premise of pavilion. Since October,
Horses live in the Moscow zoo since its basis. In 19 century the stable was some kind of an exhibition: visitors got acquainted with various breeds of horses. Now the zoo stable settles down in new territory behind pavilion «Hoofed animals of Africa». In it there live horses of following breeds: Arabian thoroughbred, ahaltekinskaya thoroughbred, Estonian local, Czech warm-blooded, Altay, Oryol risistaya, budionovskaya, the American tiny horse, is a lot of pony.
All these horses can be seen not only in a zoo, but also on horse holidays which arrange at School of riding of the Moscow zoo.
The house of primacies
In New territory "the House of primacies", or "Monkey house" as it names visitors is located. It is one of the greatest and beautiful pavilions of the Zoo where live about 30 kinds of monkeys. In pavilion as much as possible comfortable conditions for a life of monkeys - inhabitants of tropics and subtropics are created.
Monkeys live and in the western and east hemisphere and are subdivided, accordingly, into monkeys Old and a New World. In the Moscow zoo the small are presented обезьянки a New World - igrunky and tamariny, intellectuals among monkeys of the South America - Capuchins, monkeys. One of the most elegant - a monkey diana. The recognised handsome man considers rare, brought in the Red Book, lvinohvostiy macaques (vanderu) - it are decorated by a magnificent silver-grey mane and a brush on a tail - from here and so sonorous name. In a zoo these animals regularly have children. Here are east kolobusy, or gverecy from woods of Equatorial Africa, mandril - perhaps, brightest of monkeys. Mandril it is rare and brought in the International Red Book. The baboon anubis Here settles down. The whole wing of the House of primacies is given anthropoids. Here there live two families of orang-utans, gibbons and gorillas.
And one more secret: is in a monkey house and the night world where in twilight night semimonkeys stare wide-eyed at you - Asian lory and African galago. It have changed time of days and in the afternoon when in the nature they sleep, here "the moon" shines and the stormy life reigns. But it is possible to get here only with the guide, having ordered excursion on a kingdom of primacies.
Terrarium
Reptiles – numerous and various group of animals, widespread on all continents, except Antarctica. On an exposition large and effective representatives of the basic groups of reptiles contain: crocodiles, lozhnonogie snakes, iguany and water turtles. It is possible to see overland turtles on a summer time exposition in external open-air cages. Unfortunately, there is no possibility to show small kinds of lizards and snakes because of an area lack.
In pavilion "Terrarium" you can see following animals: a mesh python (Python reticulatus), tigroviy a python (Python molurus), a motley python (Python curtus), an amethystine python (Morelia amethistina) and a black-headed python (Aspidites melanocephalus). On an exposition boas – the second branch lozhnonogih a dragon are presented also. They differ from pythons distribution (tropics of a New World and island Madagascar) and zhivorozhdeniye (eggs develop in a body of mother and on light there are independent cubs).
You can see two of 4 kinds of anacondas, or the American water boas. Here there is an ordinary (huge) anaconda (Eunectes murinus), a Paraguayan or southern yellow anaconda (Eunectes notaeus), an ordinary Madagascar boa (Acrantophis madagascariensis).
In an angular greenhouse it is possible to see some kinds of water turtles. These are Asian box-shaped or amboinskiye turtles (Cuora amboinensis), the European marsh turtles (Emys orbicularis) and krasnouhiye turtles (Trachemys scrypta).
In a following angular terrarium there lives group ordinary or green iguana.
Second half of exposition is completely given crocodiles. Crocodiles subdivide into the present crocodiles, gavialov and alligators. Here you can see 3 kinds of alligators and 3 kinds of crocodiles. In the Moscow zoo are presented black kaiman (Melanosuchus niger), missisipskiy an alligator (Alligator mississippiensis), the Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis). From the present crocodiles living in a zoo, tuporiliy a crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis), gavialoviy a crocodile (Tomistoma schlegeli), a Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis). All crocodiles are fed with 2 times a week with fish and rats.
Children's zoo
Children's zoo — department of the Moscow zoo for its smallest visitors. Here they can not only drive on a roundabout, roll down from a hill or compete in jumps with a hare and a kangaroo, but also to see those animals about whom to them in the evenings read fairy tales of mum. They are waited by the presents a wolf and seven kids, a fox and a crane, three pigs and many other heroes of children's books.
Besides, here it is possible to see all year long those animals who live in the country at the grandmother: they are turkey-cocks, holmogorskiye and the Tula geese, hens of ancient Russian breeds — Oryol and yurlovskiye; and as small decorative chickens — shabo, kohinhiny and viandoty. Behind glass it is possible to see eggs these feathery, to look, as the present incubator is arranged. Burros of Nochka and Zajka, and even a cow of Murka with a cat Matroskin wait for the small friends zaanenskiye a nanny-goat.
In the summer, on the days off, in days of a school vacation on a scene of "the Children's zoo" pass free representations for small visitors. Come, friends! To save forces, you can enter from outside the Garden ring.
Our excursion on a zoo also has come to an end here. Thanks for attention. I hope that you visit the Moscow zoo and will spend time in the company of animals and learn much about them.
