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Moscow Zoo
The Moscow Zoo is a 21.5-hectare (53-acre) zoo
founded in 1864 by 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 Moscow and has remained under Moscow's control ever
since.
The zoo had an area of 10 hectares (25 acres)
when it first opened, with 286 animals. In 1926, the zoo was
expanded to adjacent lands, increasing the area to 18 hectares (44
acres). The zoo's original buildings were wooden, built in the old
Russian style with intricate wood trims.
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
Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street divides the properties.
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 Moscow zoo has over 6000 animals
representing about 1000 species and covers an area of about 21.5
hectares (53 acres) The zoo studies animals behaviour, feeding and
reproduction, and breeds rare endangered species.
Some of the species at the zoo are:
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)
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