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Penza Zoo was organized in 1981 on the territory of former archbishop’s
garden, the first mentions of which dated 1848.
There are three ponds
with natural supply on the square of 9.8 hectares (24 acres). The unique
collection of trees, bushes and grass plants is gathered there. The age
of several trees is 180-200 years. You can find conifer and deciduous
trees. The overfall of heights is 22 meters (72 feet). There are at
least nine different landscapes shown on the territory. These landscapes
are not connected by composition or territory, but they form a single
whole and unique natural landscape complex of anthropogenic origin. They
are linked with each other with alleys and paths that are convenient for
walking. The alleys are well fit for horse riding, active games. During
massive holidays for children the exhibitions of animals, paintings and
photos, as well as selling exhibitions (for example, selling exhibitions
of folk master’s hand-mades) are held. Multifunctionality of separate
parts promotes its active involving in cultural activity. Additional
benches are set in alleys in spring and summer. Alleys and paths are
well designed for baby carriages. There are capacities for visiting the
zoo by handicapped people; there are ramps in the zoo.
The symbol of Penza zoo
is a wood-grouse. Zoo is the green island of nature in the city.
Annually planting and forming of lawns are held, as well as measures to
protect available and new plantations. All summer open-air cages are
decorated and covered with grass.
Zoo territory is crossed
with four alleys which lead to Lebediny (Swan) pond and Kamyshovy (Cane)
pond, as well as to sight site.
The zoo charms with its
location. Three natural ponds connected with each other with canals,
hills and vast meadows, light birch grove and shady larch grove,
wonderful fruit garden adjoins with enclosures, and ponds are a part of
open-air cages.
There are rare,
endangered, beautifully blossomed, economically useful plants - blue
spruce, pines, larches, chestnuts, birches, lindens, apple-trees,
barberries, snowball trees, roses, lilies, junipers, spiraea, etc. –
among plants growing in the zoo, as well as the plants entered on the
list of The Red book of Penza region.
There is a complex of
buildings for heat-loving animals – lions, jaguars, caracals, as well as
various monkeys, such as baboons, gibbons, macaques, lemurs, capuchins.
The enclosures with parrots (there are 28 species in the collection) are
among interesting and spectacular expositions. Penza zoo is the only zoo
in Russia with the exposition of bustard. It is also an interesting view
to see the enclosures with hoofed animals which can be observed from the
sight site and a bridge.
Penza zoo is a favorite place
of citizens to rest. It enjoys merited love; annually we accept a great
amount of visitors (over 160 thousands) from Penza and Penza region, as
well as from Saratov, Ulyanovsk and Mordovia.
Nowadays zoos are not
only institutions of culture and education but also first of all
institutions of nature conservation. Our zoo is not an exception. We
hold a great nature-conservative and educational work. Annually we
conduct more than 20 holidays for children, and for elder visitors we
organize musical performances and brass band concerts, for newlyweds we
offer driving in a horse carriage, swan feeding and pigeon release.
The tasks that the zoo
successfully solves can be divided into several directions:
• maintenance and exhibit of unique collection of animals and plants;
• conservation of biodiversity and participation in environmental
actions;
• ecological upbringing and education of population;
• organization and conduction of cultural actions for children and
adults. (Ice-cream Day, Lemonade Day, Day of Balloons, Animals’
Birthdays;
The quantity of animals is over
2000. The quantity of species is 210 (including 100 species, 316
specimens of animals from Red Books of Penza region, Russian Federation
and IUCN). The zoo personnel successfully work in international programs
of conservation of rare and endangered species: Amur tiger, Przevalsky's
horse, apes, cranes and Molucca cockatoo.
Modern zoo is the place
where rare and endangered species are maintained and bred, and we hope
that people visiting our zoo will always keep it in mind and be careful
with our nurselings.
During several last years
the pair of Amur tigers in Penza zoo gave birth to 20 cubs that were
transferred to other zoos. There are only 400-450 of Amur tiger species
in wild nature, so the Penza zoo deposit in conservation and
rehabilitation of the species is 4%.
Source: official site of
Penza Zoo (2012)
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