I. Metshin: “The Kazan Zoo will become a true gem and stand along with the best European zoos”

(KZN.RU, June 17, Ksenia Shvetsova). After reconstruction, the territory of the Kazan Zoo will increase threefold from 7 to 21 hectares. The Zoo will be divided into three parts: “The Zambezi River” with African animals, “The Amazon River” with animals living in South America, and the territory with animals from different parts of Russia. After reconstruction, the Kazan Zoo will stand along with the best European zoos. Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan, expressed this opinion at the Business Monday today in the Executive Committee.

The Kazan Zoo is not only the oldest, but also the only one in Russia that combines zoological and botanical collections. The decision on its reconstruction was made in 2014, said Fanis Nurmukhametov, the director of Kazan Zoo. The large-scale reconstruction program started in 2015.

At the first stage of work, a new area “Zambezi River” is being created on the shore of Kaban Lake. This is a unique exhibition. The territory of 6.7 hectares will present only African animals. In total, the exhibition “Zambezi River” will feature 34 species of animals.

The second stage is the reconstruction and construction of the existing territory. “The main part of the territory will be occupied by three expositions of animals living in different regions of Russia”, said F. Nurmukhametov. The first part is “Lake Baikal”, where the animals of the taiga of Western Siberia will be represented: wolverine, lynx, brown bear, Baikal seal, and others. The second part is the “Ussuri River”, where animals of the Far East of Russia will live: Amur tiger, Far Eastern leopard, Himalayan bear, Harza and others. The third is “Wrangel Island”, the main species in this exhibition are the polar bear, musk ox, reindeer, walrus and others.

In the third stage of reconstruction, it is planned to build the complexes of the Amazon River open-air cage for animals living in South America on the opposite side of Kaban Lake: a jaguar, a giant anteater, a tapir, a sloth, and others.

“All three parts will be connected by bridges and a tunnel”, explained the director of the Zoo. “The reconstruction is based on modern technologies for keeping and exhibiting animals that can provide spectacular expositions and a high level of public service”.

According to F. Nurmukhametov, zoo specialists have been trained in European zoos and in Moscow for working with new animals, namely with elephants and apes. After the introduction of new staff units, it will be possible to recruit staff with a biological education. In the long term, it is planned to conduct research in collaboration with the KFU.

“The reconstruction of the Zoo is a gift to the capital, residents and guests of Kazan. For this, I want to express huge words of gratitude to Rustam Minnikhanov, the President of the RT”, said Ilsur Metshin, the Mayor of Kazan. “We believe that after the completion of the reconstruction, our Zoo will become a true gem and will stand along with the best European zoos”.