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Kyiv Zoo (, ) is the largest zoo in Kyiv, Ukraine, and one of the largest in the former Soviet Union. Situated on about , the zoo is cared for by 378 staff members and receives about 280,000 visitors annually.
Four years after it was founded, a relatively large, permanent location on the outskirts of Kyiv was allotted to the zoo. In 1913, the animals' winter facilities received central heating.
By 1914, as Political decay in Russian Empire had increased, the development of the zoo was limited. Only after the Russian Revolution (1917) ended did the zoo recover. During the 1940s (World War II), Kyiv was occupied by the Nazi Germany forces, and the zoo was used by the German garrison. Fortunately, the animals were evacuated out of the city, and later returned after the end of the war.
In 1970, the bird's pavilion was added, which is considered to be the largest in Europe to-date. In 1982, an exhibit called Animals Island was presented, in which animals were separated from the visitors by small . The Animals Island houses the zoo's large cats (like lions and tigers).
In 1996, the zoo was admitted to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA); however, it was expelled and banned in 2017 over poor conditions, and of mistreatment of animals. Clifford J. Levy: Tight Times in Ukraine Means Cramped Quarters for Its Zoo Animals, in The New York Times 22 December 2009, retrieved 14 October 2010 As of April 2018, the zoo is a "Candidate for Membership" with EAZA, and as such is being supported towards resuming full membership. EAZA support: Candidates for Membership
In 2008, some 51 animals died in the zoo. A series of controversial deaths also unfolded in 2010, when a 39-year-old elephant died at Kyiv Zoo on 26 April, followed by a camel on 26 May, and a bison on 31 May. The city administration and the zoo authorities blamed poisoning of the animals as cause of the deaths, while animal rights activists accused the substandard living conditions, negligent handling and unqualified zoo administration.
In 2009, a Ukrainian postage stamp was introduced to mark the 100th anniversary of the zoo. In 2020, the zoo received a full renovation to improve the life of the animals in it.
In response to concerns over the Russian military presence at the border, zoo director Kyrylo Trantin, began to prepare for the possibility of invasion about a week before it began. Trantin, with the advice of a zoo director in Haifa, stocked up on food supplies and materials to build additional enclosures or to repair existing ones. The zoo closed down for an indefinite amount of time following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zookeepers said they were still keeping care of the animals inside, with about 50 staff members and about 30 family members living within the facility to care for the animals.
The zoo is also a research centre, working on acclimatization of far land animals, and preserving and reproduction of rare animals, such as the , , Przewalski's Horses and some others. The zoo has since been refurbished since 2017.
| + Species as of 31 December 2009 | |
| Birds | 593 |
| Mammals | 192 |
| Reptiles | 135 |
| Amphibians | 135 |
| Fish | 530 |
| Invertebrates | 362 |
| Total: | 1947 |
== Gallery ==
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