Perm Zoo re-opens for visitors.

Photos by Darya Permyakova

The 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.