Description of the attraction
The official opening of the Tallinn Zoo took place on 25 August 1939. The organization of the zoo was undertaken by the Union for the Protection of Animals and the Institute for Nature Conservation and Tourism. Disputes about the opening of this institution have been going on for a long time and stopped in 1937, when the team of the Estonian Shooters' Union brought a live lynx, Illa, which, along with the cup, was a prize at a competition in Helsinki. This animal became both the first pet of the zoo and its symbol.
Initially, as an experiment, it was decided to collect a small collection of animals and gain experience in caring for pets. This first zoo was established on a temporary site at the edge of Kadriorg Park. In 1940, the activities of public organizations were banned, and the institution came under the control of the city government, the zoo is still municipal.
The outbreak of the Second World War did not, of course, contribute to the development of the zoo. Only in 1983 he moved to a new territory in Veskimetsa, with an area of about 87 hectares. The impetus for such a move was the fact that it was planned to build a high-speed road on the site of the zoo. The move was quick, and we had to come to terms with temporary premises, which were converted military warehouses. It was planned that the new territory would be mastered in 10-15 years. However, after the Moscow Olympics, the construction of cultural and sports facilities was banned for 10 years. Therefore, the construction of the zoo complex began almost only after the restoration of Estonia's independence. From a certain point of view, this is even good, since today modern technologies and materials can be used in construction.
In addition to the general overview collection, which introduces the species diversity of the animal world, the zoo specializes in some groups of animals. For example, the Tallinn Zoo possesses one of the world's best collections of ibex and sheep, as well as a collection of eagles and vultures, a collection of owls and cranes.
The achievements and efforts of the staff of the Tallinn Nature Reserve did not go unnoticed. In 1989, this reserve was the first among the Soviet ones to be admitted to the International Association of Zoos (WAZA).
To make your visit to the zoo more interesting and informative, you can order a guide who will tell you in detail about the inhabitants of the zoo. You can choose a sightseeing or thematic excursion. In summer, you can get on a night excursion, where you can learn and see the peculiarities of animal behavior at night. By prior arrangement, it is possible to rent picnic areas, of which there are several on the territory of the zoo.
