YEREVAN ZOO TO UNDERGO MAJOR RECONSTRUCTION NEXT YEAR

ARMENPRESS
Oct 30 2007

YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS: The Yerevan Zoo will undergo a
major reconstruction next year with new specious cages to be built
for felines and apes, its director Sahak Abovian, told Armenpress.

A natural gas system will be laid and many new trees will be
planted. He said the government has released $2 million for the
reconstruction.

The Yerevan Zoo was built 66 years ago and was one of the best zoos
in the former Soviet Union. Despite a chain of hardships experienced
in early 1990-s following the collapse of the former Soviet Union,
it has recovered in the last several years and has acquired several
animals. Overall it has 2,300 animals of 180 species. Around 60
percent of them are registered in the Red Book.

Mr. Abovian said zoos are very important in terms of preserving and
ensuing reproduction of some species which are nearing the edge of
extinction in wild life.

The Yerevan Zoo has one such specie-it is Przhevalsky horse. Armenian
bezoar (Capra aegagrus) and moufflon are being bred by the Zoo and
released.

Within the frameworks of cooperation with WWF the Zoo has exchanged
10 bezoar goats for deer in neighboring Georgia.

In 1994 the Yerevan Zoo joined the Eurasian Association of Zoos and
Aquariums. The Association coordinates exchange of animals among
zoos, information, new management experience and new animal treatment
methods. The Yerevan Zoo cooperates also with several zoos in Europe.

The government has earmarked 200 million Drams as a subsidy to the
Yerevan zoo for next year, up from 177 million this year. Mr. Sahakian
said this sum is enough to meet all demands.