Nikolaev Zoo

Nikolaev Zoo was founded by Nikolaev city mayor Nikolai Pavlovich Leontovich. As he himself wrote in the report to the Nikolaev District Executive Committee in 1923, the zoo, named then Aquarium, was founded on 26 April 1901.

Before the October revolution in Russia Aquarium was the mayor’s private collection, and it was situated in his detached house. As far back as in the pre-revolution period Leontovich’s collection was widely known in Russia and in Europe. Aquarium was equipped according to the latest technical achievements of that time. Electrical air compressors and water heaters were used in the fish tanks, 75 in quantity. Some of the tanks contained up to 3000 litres of water. Collection consisted of about 50 fish species and reptiles, all in all more than 1000 specimens. There were only seven such collections in the whole Europe. N.P. Leontovich regularly published works on aquariumistics, was an active fellow member of the Natural society in Nikolaev. In 1918 the collection was nationalized and Leontovich was appointed its director.

In 1925 zoological department was opened in Aquarium and it was renamed into Aquarium/Zoo. Bisons, camels, yaks, deer, ostriches were brought from Askania Nova. Bears, wolves, foxes, monkeys were also purchased for the Zoo. Its territory was enlarged up to 0,75 ha. Enclosures for the hoofed animals and cages for the animals of prey were built, a young park was planted.

Visitors could see a lot of exotic fish from all over the world, inhabiting fresh and salt waters of the globe. Creative power of Nature could be clearly seen here. Ever since then the zoo keeps a big collection of birds, from tiny colibries to the huge eagles, a group of parrots, cacatoos, storks. There are several species of monkeys, as well as crocodiles, wolves, bears, foxes, bulls, boas, deer and many other animals. Besides, all the representatives of local fauna are gathered there. In the park one can see a lot of rare plants.

Year after year the Zoo specialists are forming the collection. Today it consists of 370 species, 2700 individuals. About 80 species entered into the International Red Book are kept in the Zoo. It is the biggest collection in Ukraine. More than 50 species can be found only in our Zoo but not in any other zoo in Ukraine.