Today, on April 26, 2021, Mykolaiv Zoo turns 120 years!
This is an extremely important event not only for our zoo, but also for all Mykolaiv.
The history of creation of Mykolaiv Zoo goes back to the distant past and went for the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries. The founder of the Aquarium (formerly so was called the zoo) was the mayor, a lawyer by profession, Mykola Leontovych (a man with a tragic fate - in 1937 he was repressed and disappeared in the Committee for State Security torture chambers). In addition to his main activity, he also had an interesting hobby - his own collection of fish, which at that time was known in Europe. Aquariums in Leontovych's house were equipped with the latest technology of the time: they had electric compressors, heaters. The fish were housed in 75 aquariums. The collection included about 50 species of fish and amphibians, more than 1,000 specimens.
Mykola Leontovych constantly published articles on aquaristics, was an active member of society of nature lovers of Mykolaiv.
The official date of foundation of Mykolaiv Zoo is considered to be April 26, 1901. It was on this day that Mykola Leontovych decided to open his collection for everyone who wants to see it.
120 years of history have passed: successes, victories, difficulties and tragedies. Five generations of specialists have given and are giving their knowledge, strength and work. Thousands and thousands of animals have passed through the zoo collection.
Today Mykolaiv Zoo is one of the oldest zoos of Europe. It has the largest collection of wild animals among zoos in Ukraine. It has about 420 species and more than 3295 individuals.
Our zoo is one of the objects of the nature reserve fund of Ukraine, which keeps and breeds wild animals in order to preserve the gene pool of zoological collections, especially endangered, rare, listed in the Red List of Ukraine and the International Red List.
The only one among the zoos of Ukraine has the current Museum of the History of the Zoo, which is now a branch of the regional museum of local lore "Old Fleet Barracks".
The zoo has its own flag, coat of arms and anthem. The motto of Mykolaiv Zoo: "Only by our joint efforts we will be able to save the world of wild animals".
Mykolaiv Zoo is the only representative of Ukraine in the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), a candidate for membership of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), a member of the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA), a member of the International Animal Registration System.
Our zoo is one of the initiators of creation of the Ukrainian association of zoos and aquariums (UAZA), the president of which is the director of Mykolaiv Zoo, Volodymyr Topchy. Also, it is a member of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
It was awarded the "Crystal cornucopia" (the award of the International Academic Rating "Golden Fortune"), the Diploma of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, the Honorary award of the Mykolaiv mayor "For merits to Mykolaiv city". Winner of the I All-Ukrainian competition "100 best goods of Ukraine - 2003" and competition "Tourist Ukraine" (2008).
Today, in honor of the anniversary of our zoo, there was an awarding of the employees who worked in Mykolaiv Zoo continuously 5 and more years, a commemorative award «120 years to Mykolaiv Zoo», founded by Mykolaiv Zoo for citizens of Ukraine for significant merits before Mykolaiv Zoo and society in the protection, conservation and recreation of wildlife and the development of the zoo business in general.
