CHILD’S JOY: YEREVAN’S ZOO CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY AND INTRODUCES A NEW ‘ANIMAL CARE’ CONCEPT
Gohar Abrahamyan
Ruben Khachatryan
ArmeniaNow
27.07.11
Lion cubs born a few days ago at the Yerevan zoo, as well as other cat
family representatives will have new more spacious and improved cages
as early as in November this year, which, experts say, will allow
to present these magnificent creatures in their natural landscape
with a pond, rocks, and vegetation characteristic of their palces
of habitation.
Enlarge Photo
Acknowledged professionals with vast experience in designing
zoological parks have been invited from abroad and the new, so-called
“space-cages”, have been designed for big cats, each covering 2,000
square meter area, with a budget of 60 million drams (about $165,000).
This project is one of the numerous reforms launched at the zoo
marking its 70th anniversary this year; the improvement program has
been initiated by the new director – president of the Pereservation
Fund for Wildlife and Cultural Values Ruben Khachatryan – ever since
his appointment earlier this year in April.
“By reorganization of the park, we are making an attempt to turn
the zoo into a reserve where animals inhabit in as spacious areas
as possible and people visiting the zoo get a chance to not simply
see an animal locked in a cage, but can watch him in a more natural
environment, study and better understand their vital importance in
the nature,” says Khachatryan, adding that the area is suitable for
creating such conditions, as only 6 ha of the 35-hectare park is
currently used.
He believes that foreign experts’ participation in the project is
highly important, since, he says, there are simply no such local
experts in Armenia.
“We are now recruiting new, younger personnel, to be sent to other
countries’ zoological parks in order to gain experience and training,”
says the director.
The state budget allocates 200 million drams ($549,450) per year to
the zoo that has 204 species of animals with a total number of 2,749,
and 77-member staff; 120 million drams ($329.670) from that is spent
only on food; and the remaining money is used to take care of the
other expenses. Hence, the current reforms are being implemented due
to cooperation with various organizations, as well as Khachatryan’s
Wildlife foundation’s support.
“We are now negotiating with several organizations, which have
developed a bio-gas production plan, and we are currently trying to
get involved in that project too through which we can use animal feces
to get bio-gas before it turns into humus, and we can use that gas to
heat the area in winter,” says Khachatryan, adding that a gas supply
pipeline will be laid all over the place as part of cooperation with
the United Nations office in Armenia.
Another project, called “Animal Care”, has been launched at the
zoo, according to which animal lovers can look after any animal they
choose during one year for the fee ranging between 20,000-100,000 AMD
($54-$274); this is a unique way of supporting animals, Khachatryan
believes.
The park’s public relations officer Mane Madoyan has made an
observation that this animal “custody” is often offered as a gift
from parents to their children.
“Parents see a great value in that and use this chance to have their
children get to know animals and have a closer communication with
them; in the majority of cases animals that pose no threat and with
which a direct communication is possible are selected,” says Madoyan.
Little Astineh’s parents decided to make one such present to their
daughter on her 7th anniversary.
“This is a great chance for communication with animals and learning
more about them,” says Astineh’s mom, while the little girl with her
tiny hands is feeding breadcrumbs to a newly-born and only several
days-old dear, and making plans as what should be done next to fulfill
that very responsible task of looking after her protege.
“To tell the truth, at first I wanted to look after a bear, but it’s
impossible to cuddle it, so I chose a dear, I can touch it, cuddle
it, feed it; I have named it Grigor, because it is an Armenian name,
and also my younger brother’s name,” says the girl both excited and
a bit confused: this is a very precious present to her. Astineh has
become the 15th caretaker since the launch of the project.
While new plans are being made taken from the world practices in this
sphere, visitors now too notice the improvements made at the zoo.
“Even if compared to last year, it is obvious that the space has been
re-arranged and improved, the cages are in a better condition, the
characteristic strong smell has been reduced too, even new garbage
bins have been placed separately for plastic and polyethylene wastes
as well as other kinds of trash,” says Srbuhi Karapetyan, 57.
In order to help children better familiarize themselves with the fauna,
every Friday (till October) viewing of documentaries about wildlife
is offered at a designated for that purpose quite comfortable area
in the park and those who are interested can take a bus that offers
a free ride to the zoo from vicinity of Yeritasardakan (Youth) metro
station in the center of Yerevan.