Leningrad (Petersburg) zoo: history and survival during the blockade years

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:47

Leningrad Zoological Park - the only sanctuary of the unique fauna in the region of the same name, is the property of the state. He has a rich history, because he is one of the first, based on the territory of Russia. The area of the ecological park is just over seven hectares, but the collection of species is striking in its diversity.

The total number of living creatures living on its territory is estimated at about 600 species, which are represented by interesting specimens of rare animals. However, the article will focus mainly on the history of this unique place, photos of the St. Petersburg Zoo are presented in the article. Some unique inhabitants will be introduced among them.

Geolocation

St. Petersburg Zoo is located in the historical center of the Petrogradsky district, in the large Alexander Park. You can comfortably get to it by reaching the metro station "Sportivnaya" or "Gorkovskaya", since the ecologic althe zoo has two exits.

Founding History

The St. Petersburg Zoo, which today is called the Leningrad Zoological Park, is the oldest in the Russian Federation. It was created inside the large Alexander Park in the 65th year of the XIX century, so it fit tightly into the history of the city itself. The buildings built before the revolution have not been preserved, but in general the map of the area has not changed. The entrance, called "New", was designed and built by the famous architect Strukov.

The first animals of the St. Petersburg Zoo were bears, tigers, lions, as well as some species of small predators, birds and exotic parrots. The owners in those distant times were the Gebhardt couple.

Auspicious time

The time span from 1873 to 1897 was the real heyday of the St. Petersburg Zoo. The second husband of Sophia Gebgardt, surnamed Rost, took care of the development of the family business so well that the number of specimens of wild animals increased to 1161. The zoo existed on funds from the theater and restaurant located on its territory. In order to improve the living conditions of animals, various ethnographic exhibitions have been held since 1879.

Decay

Things went well under Rost's strict guidance, but in 1898, due to he alth reasons, he could no longer hold the reins of power in his own hands. This led the zoo to decline, and in 1909 it had to be closed. However, the government at that timepondered the creation of a scientific zoo, which would become the pride of the royal St. Petersburg. They even wanted to move it from Alexander Park to Udelny.

New age and change of master

Russian drama theater actor S. N. Novikov, who by the will of fate became the owner of the St. Petersburg Zoo, set to work cheerfully, and first of all he repaired the enclosures and dug a new spacious pond for waterfowl fauna. Animals acquired at that time managed to survive the revolution, and some managed to survive the Great Patriotic War, for example, a hippo named Beauty. But the elephant Betty, who was very fond of city children, died during the blockade on the night of the Nazi raid on September 9, 1941.

Pride of the USSR

With the advent of Soviet power, the St. Petersburg Zoo became a national treasure. In 1918, the Academic Council was appointed, responsible for all economic, environmental and professional issues. A library with specialized literature appeared, as well as a circle of the "Young Zoologist", which operates today.

In 1932, it was possible to establish a population of polar bears, which had practically never bred in captivity before. That is why the emblem of the St. Petersburg Zoo depicts this unique animal, which in nature is on the verge of extinction. In 1940, the Leningrad Ecological Zoo turned 75 years old, and an additional plot of 171 hectares, “cut off” from the Specific Park, became a gift. However, it was not possible to develop new lands - it preventedwar. In those terrible years, the zoo suffered a lot, and many areas were damaged by bombing. However, despite the unbearable blockade conditions, the zoo did not close.

After the war

Servants at the cost of their own lives saved many species of animals, and even managed to increase the population. Often they did not eat themselves, but at the very least, they fed the wards. In addition, zoologists traveled outside the park to give lectures. That is why, in memory of the most difficult conditions of the blockade and the feat of the zoo staff, the name remained Soviet.

Already in 1944, the Leningrad Zoo was fully open to visitors, and active restoration work was carried out in places of destruction. In the 50s, new inhabitants arrived on the territory of the ecological park, and by the 100th anniversary it received the status of the best zoo in the USSR.

Reconstruction

In terms of species diversity, the Leningrad Zoo was the leader among other similar institutions, but many buildings were pretty much destroyed. As a result of this problem, a large-scale reconstruction began in 1967, which was supposed to meet the "five-year plan".

The master plan involved the demolition of old buildings and the construction of new ones, so the matter dragged on for a long time. This had a direct impact on the collection, since the elephants and hippos were transported to other zoos in the vast Soviet Union during the work. But it was not so easy to return them.

New time

In the 90s, life was difficult for everyone, so what startedIt was in 1996 that the construction of the terrarium was left without funding. And only in 2007 the building was rebuilt and opened to visitors under the name "Exotarium". Within its walls you can admire fish, lizards, crocodiles, turtles and other amphibians. In 2015, a collectible commemorative coin was issued dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the Leningrad Zoo.