Zoo in Tallinn is the largest zoo in Europe in terms of area - it occupies 87 hectares of the picturesque Veskimetsa forest in the vicinity of the capital of Estonia. Despite the northern climatic conditions, the zoo contains animals from almost all latitudes of the world - from Alaska to Australia, in the amount of almost 8,000 individuals of more than 600 species and subspecies.
Zoo history
An interesting story of the creation of the Tallinn Zoo (Est. Tallinna Loomaaed), the opening of which was planned since the 20s of the last century, but only the brilliant victory of the Estonian shooting team at the World Championship in 1937 gave a real start to this project. Together with the cup, the athletes brought an exotic gift from Finnish fans - a young lynx Illu, which then became the first exhibition copy and mascot of the Tallinn Zoological Garden.
After Estonia joined the USSR in 1940, the zoo was transferred to the municipal jurisdiction of the Tallinn City Council. And only throughFor 40 years, the Tallinn Zoo was able to move to Veskimets, where it could develop freely, mastering the vast territory of the forest park.
Zoo in Soviet Tallinn
Tallinn Zoological Park was the first such institution in the Soviet Union to become a member of WAZA (World Association of Zoos and Aquariums). However, a difficult phase again sets in in the fate of the zoo, since after the Olympic Games in Moscow in 1980, all funding for cultural facilities was closed in the country for almost 10 years. The menagerie receives new development only in independent Estonia, where the authorities have made a lot of efforts and funds to introduce the latest equipment and technologies.
Tropical house
Zoo in Tallinn contains a wide variety of animals. Despite the cool B altic climate, the organizers of the zoo managed to create several exotic heat-loving expositions in which animals of the savannas and hot humid jungles feel great.
The "Tropical House" exposition is inhabited by crocodiles that coexist with noble leopards, and several African elephants walk in an aviary equipped with warm rooms. Hippos feel great in the warm pool, and the audience, waiting for a long time for the appearance of the "graceful" Gloria, is enthusiastically greeted by ears, a piece of a nose and eyes that have appeared from under the water. Unlike its distant relative, the rhinoceros always willingly poses for the zoo in Tallinn and receives numerous photo shoots.
The inhabitants of African swamps also look cheerful and well-fed - red bushy-eared pigs and warthogs, they do not even care about the B altic piercing wind, if only the trough with nutritious and tasty food was always full.
All latitudes of the world
The Arctic exposition attracts attention with huge polar bears, against which the brown bears familiar to the middle lane seem to be disheveled, immature teenagers.
In the zoo you can see animals from all over the world. A large but cocky Asian bull, the gaur, lives next to the majestic American bison, and a group of cheerful Alpine kids regularly put on loud concerts in anticipation of cleaning and lunch, which always greatly entertain zoo visitors.
Planet of the Apes
Zoo in Tallinn is rightfully proud of its monkey nursery. Several dozen species of primates live here, but some of the very first inhabitants are Pino, Betty and Quincy chimpanzees. The eldest male Pino recently turned 30 years old, and zoo employees, along with visitors, congratulated him with delicious treats and joint painting, which chimpanzees love to do.
Zoo workers talk about their "reasonable" wards with special love and pride. How graciously they help to clean the cages, bringing leftover food or broken branches, or jealous of other employees or visitors if they paid little attention to them. However,despite the touching friendship between people and monkeys, employees never enter their cage, explaining this by the fact that chimpanzees have incredible strength and are prone to outbursts of unmotivated aggression. At such moments, they can easily destroy half of the inventory in the enclosure, inflict damage on themselves and other members of the pack, and simply kill a person. An adult male chimpanzee is able to lift a weight of up to 500 kg, and objects thrown by careless visitors can be accurately and with great force thrown back at the unlucky fans of the show.
In the enclosure with marmosets - small South American monkeys, whose height usually does not exceed 40 cm, there is always a cheerful and noisy atmosphere. They flicker from branch to branch in their shady paddock, paying little attention to onlookers outside. Also, the zoo is home to pygmy marmosets, which barely reach 15 cm in height. In 2015, the Tallinn Zoo (Tallinn) presented two pairs of such cute monkeys for the 150th anniversary of the Leningrad Zoo, which really needed new individuals for a he althy replenishment of the population.
Horned and feathered
The most numerous groups of animals in the zoo in Tallinn are mountain sheep, aurochs and goats, there are more than a thousand of them. At the same time, many species of ungulates and horned animals successfully breed, supplying livestock to other zoos in the world.
In addition to animals, the Tallinn Zoo has collected a huge number of birds - from exotic pelicans and flamingos to predatory eagles, vultures and owls. A very rare and numerous selection made from various breeds of storksand cranes, many of which are on the verge of extinction, and the ability to restore their populations is only in the hands of such nurseries as Tallinn.
Reviews of tourists
Tourists and bloggers are very positive about the Tallinn Zoo. In addition to rave reviews about rare species of animals, everyone notes the beautiful secluded nature of the forest park, which has a beneficial effect on all visitors, filling their hearts with peace and tranquility. On the territory there are several places for organized picnics, where you can really relax your body and soul in silence and surrounded by the untouched beauty of the forest.
Among the shortcomings, the scarcity and unpretentiousness of the equipment of the enclosures, which often consist only of concrete walls and floors, are most often mentioned. However, the indescribable positive atmosphere of the zoo still leaves only the most pleasant impressions.
Zoo in Tallinn - how to get there
Entrance to the zoo is provided through two gates: to the western gate - from Ehitajate tee, 150 (Ehitajate tee, 150), and to the north - from Paldiski mnt, 145 (Paldiski maantee, 145).
In order not to look in an unfamiliar city for information about where the zoo is located in Tallinn, how to get to it, remember that from the city center you can get to the menagerie by buses No. 21, 22, 41-43, to the stop " Nurmenuku" - by buses No. 10, 28, 46 and 47.
The zoo is open all year round, seven days a week.
November - February - from 9 am to 5 pm (children's and domesticexposure - from 10 to 16), from May to August - from 9 am to 9 pm (10-19), in other seasons - from 9 to 19 (10-18).
2 hours before the Zoo closes, ticket offices stop selling entrance tickets.
Ticket prices
October - April; adult - 4 €, preferential (children, students, pensioners) - 2 €, family (for 5 people) - 9 €.
May - September: adult - 7 €, reduced - 4 €, family - 17 €.
Adult and discount tickets to the adventure park cost 21 € and 17 €, respectively, with the cost of visiting the zoo.
Children under 6 enter free.
Indoor exhibitions are closed on Mondays.
