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.
Fresh materials — Society News
Karina Cross and Hockey Player Mark Rudakovsky Exchange Vows
Blogger and TV presenter Karina Lazaryants, widely known as Karina Cross, has taken vows with hockey player Mark Rudakovsky. The ceremony was a private affair, with only the couple's closest family and friends in attendance. Karina Cross wore a white gown, while Mark Rudakovsky opted for
Russian Duma Temporarily Exempts Some Entrepreneurs from VAT
The State Duma of the Russian Federation has approved a bill in its second and third readings that will exempt entrepreneurs operating under the simplified tax system (USN) and patent tax system (PSN) from paying VAT until the end of 2026. This was announced on Tuesday, April 14. The initia
Court Finds Pichugin Guilty in Case of Two Deaths in Sea of Okhotsk
A court in Ulan-Ude has found Mikhail Pichugin, who spent 67 days drifting on a catamaran in the Sea of Okhotsk, guilty in a case concerning the deaths of two individuals. The verdict was announced by the judge of the court on Tuesday, April 14th. "Ultimately, Pichugin is sentenced to three
Deputy Panesh Reveals Who Can Receive a Lump Sum Pension of 440,000
Many Russians have the opportunity to receive their pension savings as a single lump sum payment rather than as a monthly addition. This was announced on Tuesday, April 14, by Kaplan Panesh, the Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on Budget and Taxes. He clarified that in 2026, ci
Russia Updates Pensionable Service Calculation Rules
The Russian government has modified the rules for calculating pensionable service when determining insurance pensions. These changes, which came into effect recently, specifically impact parents of twins, large families, and individuals with rural work experience. Previously, periods of childca
Sergey Rost Explains Why "Ostrozhno, Modern!" Was Canceled: "It Became Unbearable"
The popular 1990s comedy show "Ostrozhno, Modern!" ceased to exist due to the personal ambitions of its host, Dmitry Nagiyev, according to his former co-star Sergey Rost. Rost explained that the discord stemmed from Nagiyev's unwillingness to share the success of the show with his on-scre