One of the oldest zoological gardens in Russia, as well as northernmost one, Leningradsky Zoo was founded by two animal-lovers, Sophia and Julius Hebhardt. It was opened to the public on August 14, 1865. Although this event generated serious interest of the public, in the first few years the Zoo wasn't profitable: it enjoyed wide popularity but the costs on animals' keeping and feeding outran the income.
The situation began to change in 1873 when the Zoo passed in the hands of Eduard Antonovitch Rost, energetic young man eager to turn the Zoo into a business. He understood that that couldn't be achieved only at the expense of demonstrating the exotic and wild animals. Thus, he divided the park into two zones: zoological, where the cages and aviaries were located, and commercial, that was planned to be the main source of revenue. In the commercial area a large restaurant Zoology (its staff numbered 90 waiters) and a summer theatre where the public could admire ballets, symphonic concerts and circus shows, were situated. Anyhow, Rost never forgot the Zoo itself: it featured the state-of-the-art equipment, the collection of animals constantly grew and the cages where 1,200 specimens lived were kept clean. At this time, the visitors could admire such exotic animals as giraffes, African elephants, orangutans, ant-eaters and hippopotamuses. Unfortunately, in 1897 E.A. Rost was forced to resign from his post and leave for Germany. Thus the most outstanding period in the pre-revolutionary history of the Zoo ended.
After the revolution of 1917 the Zoo was nationalized. To manage it the Scientific Council, headed by such prominent scientists as V. Blanki, Z. Dogel, L. Orbeli and others, was established. Soon the Zoo had grown considerably and in 1940, to mark its 75th anniversary, it was given a 171-hectares territory in the Chelyuskintzy Park. But the beginning of the World War II prevented plans of a new zoo construction to be fulfilled.
Already in July 1941 eighty most valuable animals were evacuated to Kazan, and in September of the same year the ring of blockade closed down and animals as well as citizens found themselves in a city under siege. In spite of all the difficulties the Lenindgradsky Zoo didn't stop working except for the most severe autumn and winter of 1941 - 1942. The majority of cages and building were destroyed, the territory was digged up with shell-holes and trenches, the Zoo lacked forage to feed the animals, but the mere existence of such a peaceful institution in the terrible war years inspired the citizens to fight and survive. The feat performed by zoo assistants is outstanding when one thinks about the fact that the animals evacuated to Kazan, the town far from military operations, died. To commemorate the heroic deed of the zoo assistants during the siege, the zoological gardens retained the name of Leningradsky Zoopark.
In the post war years the Zoo was quite rapidly developing. Nowadays the Leningradsky Zoo boasts about 2,000 specimens of 410 species of beats, birds and reptiles, thus, it is second zoo in Russia according to the number of species and specimens presented. The Zoo has stayed in the historical center of the city and occupies the territory of 7,5 hectares.
The emblem of the Zoo is Polar bear while these rare arctic animals have got acclimatized in Saint Petersburg perfectly well and have been breeding here regularly since 1932.
Nowadays you can see lions, tigers, jaguars, camels, giraffes, crocodiles, bears, wolves and many other animals and birds at Leningradsky Zoo and each creature is unique in its own way. The department of primates is especially popular with the visitors. Tiny tree shrews, Japanese macaques, picturesque hamadryads, graceful gibbons and orangutans-showmen always win admiration with children as well as with adults.
For a long time the star of the Zoo was female orangutan Monika. She became famous for her drawings. She drew quite well and did it with great relish, using in the exciting process of a new masterpiece creation not only her arms but legs as well. She pictured objects in her own original way and specialists assert that she possessed outstanding composition flair. Nowadays orangutan Rabu, Monika's husband, and his son Ramon live in the Zoo. Not so long ago Rabu got acquainted with Zira, which came from Germany, and zoo assistants hope that the life of a new family will be happy.
Walking around the Zoo some visitors wonder, why there are so many empty cages - they lack animals or their inhabitant have died from poor keeping conditions. Neither statement is true - all the cages with tablets are with animals. But many of specimens mastered the art of mimicry and masking to such perfection that with the naked eye are unlikely to be noticed.
The best period to visit the Zoo is from the end of May to August, while in summer the majority of the animals move to spacious open-air cages, imitating natural environment. Besides, in spring - beginning of summer many animals have babies and you can admire the young.