Baku Zoo

Baku Zoo
Baku Zoo entrance.
Date opened	1928
Location	Baku, Azerbaijan
No. of animals	1200
No. of species	160
Memberships	EAZA

Baku zoo (Azerbaijani: Bakı Zooloji Parkı) – a state zoological park in Baku. It is the oldest one in Azerbaijan. It was opened in 1928. It belongs to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Azerbaijan and to Executive Power of Baku city. Total area of the zoo is 4,25 ha.

History

African lions

Muntjacs

Red deer

Ostrich

Baku zoo was opened in 1928, in the territory of a park named after Lunacharsky (at present this park is named after Nizami).

In 1942, a new zoo was founded on the basis of evacuated Rostov zoo, the opening ceremony of which was held after the Great Patriotic War. Right up to 1958, the zoological park was located near a railway station in a small square, which was later named after Ilich.

In 1958, the zoo was carried to Bayil township, outskirts of Baku and located there right up to the middles of 1970’s, where a well known Bayil landslip happened, during which died a lion and a bear crushing in a fallen cage. This tragic event made the city power to think about a new, safe place for the zoo, but until the decision was made, the zoo was temporarily carried to Razin township (at present Bakikhanov township), where he was located till 1985.

But during this period of time an expert group of zoologists, biologists and other specialists decided that a park located in the territory of Narimanov rayon of Baku is the appropriate place for habitation of animals. Construction of new zoo was begun near railway station for children and according to the plan 45 ha was given for it. For speeding the construction it was decided to temporarily use 2,25 ha of a given place and later to expand the territory by constructing circular railway station for children near the whole zoo.

In 1979, head of executive power allocated necessary amount of money for the construction of the new zoo, which was lasted 5 years because of deficiency in financing. And at last, on September 1, 1985, new Baku zoo was brought into operation and was opened for visitors again, where it is located up to now.

In 2010, constructional works began in the territories belonging to the zoo and in the result of this construction of a new railway station for children was totally reconstructed. Issue about resettlement of the zoo was put on the agenda again.

Project of new zoo

White storks

Zebu

According to order of Ilham Aliyev – the President of Azerbaijan, a new zoo with unique and rare kinds of flora and fauna will be constructed in Gobu township of Absheron rayon, about 10 kilometers far from Baku. The amount of 2,85 million manats was allocated from the president’s fund for this purpose. Rare mammal birds from different continents, especially from Australia will be located in the territory of the new zoological park, the area of which consists of 230 ha. A working group, which includes specialists from different research institutes and NPO’s, is created in the Ministry of Ecology and natural resources and Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences.

Symbol of Baku zoo

Lama at its house

Bactrian camels

Pink flamingo, which appeared in Baku at the beginning of 1990’s for the first time is the symbol of Baku zoo. Citizens of the city brought these-half-dead and injured birds to the zoo. Workers of the zoo, leading by the head veterinarian Chingiz Sultanov looked after them and due to them there are about 28 flamingos at present.

Amount of animals

•Year 2010: 1200 animals of 160 species.

Species of the animals

Jaguar

Brown bear

Nile crocodile Pink flamingo Brown bear Reindeer Egyptian dogs Common buzzard Griffon Vulture

Eurasian lynxes Roe deer Red deer Lions Tigers Zebu Camels

Black griffon Jackals Foxes Hippopotamuses Ponies Bearded Vulture Lamas

Leopard Turtles Jaguar Fallow Deer Bovinae Wolf Monkey

Chinchilla Ostrich Parrots Fishes Nasuas Bubalus Moose

Egyptian Vulture Muntjacs

Entrance cost

•2011 – 1 Manat (1,25 dollars) for elder; 60 gapik (0,75 dollars) for children.

Directors of the zoo

Greater Flamingo — symbol of Baku zoo

Turtles in aquarium

Azer Huseynov is director of the zoo for many years.

Some facts

Shetland pony

Rhesus macaque

•In 2001, according to order of head of the Executive Power of Baku 2 ha area was allocated to the zoo. Total area of the zoo expanded up to 4,25 ha.

•In 2008, six species of exotic animals were brought by airplane from Minsk to Baku zoo: couples of Nile crocodiles, nasuas, chinchillas, row deer, Egyptian dogs and lynxes. It was in exchange for a young lion, which was sent from the capital of Belarus to Baku at the end of 2007.