Perm Zoo re-opens for visitors.
Photos by Darya PermyakovaThe Perm Zoo, established back in 1933, boasts over 379 animal species, with total number of live specimens exceeding 2,000.
Of these, about 50 species are listed in International Red Book, Russia’s Red Book and the Red Book of the Mid-Urals. The Zoo annually attracts at least 300,000 visitors.
The Zoo has been successful in raising rare and endangered animals - such as the white bear, the snow leopard, the Amur tiger, the markhoor - and is part of international programmes aimed at preserving the endangered animals.
This year the zoo had been closed for three months as a result of pandemic and lockdown.
Last week the Zoo started its normal work hours, however, with a very tight control for health safely: the visitors have an entrance check for temperature control and are obliged to wear protection masks, even that the animals are exhibited in the open-air. In addition, the visitors are required to keep the social distance of 1.5 meters that is shown in a lively manner – there are signs showing the requested distance calculated in animal size and paraphenalia, i.e. “3 lemurs”, “the eagle’s nest”, etc.
In the pandemic situation, the Zoo aims at improving its infrastructure and pays a close attention to the animals ration: the polar bears get season’s fresh cucumbers as well as some “exotic” food – Seri, the male polar bear, adores dried rose buds. The Zoo staff indicate an unusual growth of animal population : the alpaca family had a newly-born “baby girl” that was named “Naomi” (after Naomi Campbell). The Brazil capybara snakes are also enjoying the season, as this is the only time when they can savour fresh grass and fruit.
