Tiger enjoys new enclosure at Baku Zoo
By Nigar Orujova
A new enclosure for the tiger at the Baku Zoo was unveiled on June 25.
The enclosure was installed on the initiative and with the support of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Vice President Leyla Aliyeva to improve conditions of the tiger.
Aliyeva, who is also the founder and current head of the IDEA Public Association, attended the opening with her children, who became acquainted with the conditions of animals living at the zoo.
After numerous appeals from Baku residents, the modern enclosure for the tiger was installed to improve the living conditions of the rare animal, which had previously been kept under unsatisfactory conditions.
The new space is five times larger than the former one; it is also has more light and more convenient.
There are separate rooms to protect the animal from heat and cold, as well as a large swimming pool, playground, and various elements that mimic the natural habitat of tigers.
This project will significantly improve the conditions of the tiger in the zoo, fully securing its safety and comfort.
Following the unveiling, Leyla Aliyeva was acquainted with the conditions of the other animals in the Baku Zoo. She then expressed her suggestions and recommendations.
The Baku Zoo was first opened in 1928. A number of zoos were then opened in the different parts of the city in the search of the ideal location.
At present, the Baku Zoo located in the Narimanov district of the capital city occupies 4.25 hectares.
The zoo keeps both animals living in Azerbaijan and those that not indigenous to the country.
From 2008 onward, the new Baku Zoo project has been under development. The Zoo is expected to be completed in 2016 and located near Gumyatag Lake in Jeyranbatan and will cover an area of 55 hectares.
It is expected that 1,518 animals of 224 species from different continents will find a new home at the planned zoo, which will be called Azerbaijani World of Nature. The natural environments of every continent will be created in the park; maintenance of the animals as well as disposal of waste products will be in full compliance with international standards.
The new zoo will have different sections, the animals will not live in cages, and natural barriers will separate them from each other.
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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