Moscow Zoo

Moscow Zoo was initially a small zoological garden. The zoo was founded in 1864 on the original 17th century territory of the village of Voskresenkoye near the Presnya River. In 1864 the All- Russian Imperial Society for the Acclimatization of Plants and Animals founded a zoological garden around the ponds and opened it to visitors on 13th February 1864.

Anatoly P. Bogdanov, a Professor at Moscow State University, was one of the organizational forces behind the founding of the zoo and called it a “a living museum outdoors.” This was a real challenging project due to the severe climatic conditions in central Russia.

The zoo opened with some 134 specimens of domestic animals and 160 specimens of wild animals, including a rhinoceros, which was presented to the zoo by the Grand Duke Konstantin. But soon, the zoo started to experience severe financial difficulties. The Moscow City Government refused to support the zoo. It was returned to the Society for the Acclimatization of Plants and Animals and fund raising activity started again. In 1922 it was transferred to the authority of Moscow City Council and since then it has been supported by the City Authorities, who have more than doubled its territory.

Zoo Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10am - 5pm. Closed Monday.

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Contact Information

Moscow Zoo
Moskva, B. Gruzinskaya, 1
123242 Moscow

Tel. +74952556034
moscowzoo-admin@cdt.ru
http://www.zoo.ru/moscow