Work to rehabilitate enclosures for predators is almost over at the Chisinau Zoo. The rehabilitation involved the walls and flooring, new fencing was installed, and the heating system was replaced.

Anna Șvedcenco, the Zoo’s deputy director, told IPN that the need for modernization had arisen earlier. “The enclosures were built at the founding of the Zoo and were intended to temporarily maintain wildlife. For 40 years, wolves, lions, leopards, bears lived here. Every year, there was a need to repair the winter spaces, fences and floors. As there was no solid foundation, the measures taken to maintain its functionality were not sufficient. At the same time, there weren’t enough funds for an extensive rehabilitation”, said Anna Șvedcenco.

In the spring of 2021, the annual renovation works started. Due to heavy rains, one night the base wall was destroyed. Emergency measures were taken to evacuate the animals. The restoration and modernization of the enclosures went on for a year. The final price will be calculated after their completion.

Several species of predators are kept at the Chisinau Zoo: lions, leopards, polar and European wolves, snow leopards, servals, caracals, lynx, bears, reed and forest cats, raccoon dogs, otters, yellow- throated martens and foxes.

In total, there are 1100 animals in the Zoo’s collection, 400 of which are birds. Recently, Siberian goats, lemurs, saimiri, capybaras, Patagonian rabbits, as well as predators were brought in, including yellow-throated martens, lions, servals and caracals.