Today, Mykolaiv Zoo officially opened the international scientific and practical conference “Zoos of Ukraine During Times of Challenge”, dedicated to the zoo’s 125th anniversary.
Despite the difficult conditions of wartime, representatives of eight Ukrainian zoos attended the event, including Rivne Zoo, Lutsk Zoo, Cherkasy Zoo, Kharkiv Zoo, Odesa Zoo, Feldman Ecopark, Kovalivka Ecopark, and BION Terrarium Center, as well as colleagues from Chisinau Zoo.
During the conference, participants discussed current issues related to animal husbandry and breeding, diet formulation, veterinary practice, and the importance of training and educating new professionals for the zoological field.
Guests were given a guided tour of the zoo and its museum by Volodymyr Topchy, Director of Mykolaiv Zoo. Conference participants also visited the new natural history exhibition at the Mykolaiv Regional Museum of Local History.
The meeting took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Colleagues actively communicated, shared professional experience, and spoke about the challenges they face during the war. In recent years, such events have become especially valuable, as opportunities for in-person professional communication have significantly decreased due to both the pandemic and wartime circumstances.
A particularly enjoyable part of the conference was the exchange of gifts and professional experience. Each participant received a commemorative gift package, while Mykolaiv Zoo welcomed new residents – steppe eagles, Galapagos giant tortoise, and several species of exotic plants for the park’s landscaping.
We were sincerely pleased to welcome our colleagues to our zoo and hope that their stay at Mykolaiv Zoo left them with only positive impressions. We thank everyone for their visit!
