Tallinn Zoo logo |
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Zoo entrance |
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| Date opened | 25 August 1939 [1] |
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| Location | Tallinn, Estonia |
| Land area | 87 hectares (210 acres) [1] |
| Number of animals | 7,158 (2008) [2] |
| Number of species | 619 (2008) [2] |
| Annual visitors | 309,891 (2008) [2] |
| Memberships | WAZA,[3] EAZA,[4] EARAZA[5] |
| Website | www.loomaaed.ee |
Tallinn Zoo is a zoo in Tallinn, Estonia that was founded in 1939. It is the only zoo in Estonia,[6] and as of 2008 it housed 7158 animals representing 619 species.[2]
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In 1937, a team of Estonian marksmen won the World Champion title in Helsinki. They brought back with them a young lynx, named Illu. Illu became the first exhibit in the zoo, which was formally opened on 25 August 1939. The lynx was later chosen to be the zoo's emblem animal.[1]
Inititally the zoo was based on the edge of Kadriorg Park. Estonia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940, delaying the planned development of the zoo. It relocated to a 87-hectare (210-acre) site in the Veskimetsa district in 1983.[1]
Tallinn Zoo has the World's largest mountain goat and sheep collection,[6] and a large eagle and owl collection.
The zoo has two tropic houses which include animals crocodiles and other reptiles, as well as fishes, exotic birds, marmosets, chimpanzees, and mongooses.
The Elephant house was built in 1989 to celebrate zoo's 50 birthday. The elephant house includes snakes, African elephants, pygmy hippos, armadillos, and rodents.
The Alpinarium has been part of the zoo since 2004. In the Alpinarium you can find mountain sheep, ibex and snow leopards.
The Middle-Asia complex was built in 2002, and includes animals like Przewalski's horses, Bactrian camels, bison, yak, and hyaenas. Near the Middle-Asia complex you can find pheasants, and water bird lakes that are home to ducks, pelicans, swans, and other water birds.
Hawk mountain is home to eagles, vultures and owls. Here you can find different vultures, golden eagles, Steller's sea eagles, barn owls and many other eagles and owls.
Tallinn zoo has successfully bred many animals, including Amur leopard, Amur goral, Steller's sea eagle, and snow leopards.
Tallinn zoo is working on European mink mission to release these endangered animals to wild.
In late 2007, a polar bear escaped from its cage due to human negligence, and died after being tranquilized.[1]
In July 2004 a man who had fallen asleep in a drunken stupor, woke up and roamed the zoo alone. He evidently tried to offer a Polar Bear a cookie, only to have his hand bitten off. His screams alerted security who called an ambulance. He survived following surgery, but his hand was never recovered.
Tallinn zoo is building new exhibits for bears, wolves, tigers and other animals, which live in old military buildings right now.
The zoo is currently undergoing a major modernization program, updating the facilities.
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