The two bears kept at the Zoological Garden of Chisinau next spring will move to a new home. A zone of about 6,000 square meters in area will replace their current cage that is 30 square meters in area. The winner of the tender contest for building the new cages for bears was recently chosen and the works are to start soon.

Zoological Garden director Alexei Hanțațuc has told IPN that the works will be performed this year and the two bears will be moved to their new cages after hibernation. The new area will be much larger and will 90% consist of a natural environment. The bears could climb trees and hunt for fish in the lake that will be built there.

The two brown bears are over 25 years old. Their current cages were built 40 years ago. Alexei Hanțațuc said they are considering the possibility of brining Siberian bears who weigh up to 700 kg to the Zoo. The brown bears kept now at the Zoo weigh by 170 kg.

From June 1 this year, the Royal Court of the Zoo will be opened to visitors. This will include goats, hares, birds, hamsters and a donkey whom the children could caress and feed and could have pictures with them.

The Zoological Garden can be visited daily between 8am and 8pm in summer and between 9am and 5pm in winter. Admission for children younger than seven is free. Students and pensions pay an entrance fee of 5 lei, while the others pay 30 lei.