Sobyanin: Panda Katyusha's Enclosure to Open This Year
The Moscow Zoo continues its development, with significant openings planned for this year. Specifically, a new enclosure for panda Katyusha will open in the 'Krug Kataniya' (Riding Circle) area of the zoo's old territory. An enclosure for golden snub-nosed monkeys will also be unveiled, and the first phase of the institution's historical area reconstruction will commence. This was announced by Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin.
Mayor Sobyanin emphasized that the Moscow Zoo is home to approximately 15,700 animals, with over half of them belonging to rare and endangered species. Last year, around 1,600 new inhabitants were born at the zoo, and 165 animals were brought to the capital from other countries and Russian regions.
In March 2025, the Moscow Zoo set a world record, officially registered in the Russian Book of Records, for the number of animal species, tallying 1,253 species. Since then, the collection has been augmented with an additional 30 species.
Last year also saw the opening of the renovated 'Sun Bears' enclosure, home to the rare Malayan bears Masha, Luchik, and Zvezdochka. Additionally, a bird recovery and adaptation center for the Moscow Zoo was established in the 1st Luchevoy Prosek of Sokolniki Park, replacing the old aviary. This center is dedicated to the treatment and rehabilitation of injured birds of prey and Red Book-listed birds.
Recently, on March 4th, two baby Giant Plated Lizards (Gerrhosaurus validus), a species native to East and South Africa, were born at the Moscow Zoo.
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