Encyclopaedia / Baku. History and Life.

Baku zoo

During World War II Rostov Zoo was evacuated to Baku . When it moved back to Rostov in 1944 some of the animals remained in Baku in Bailov region. This can be considered the starting point of Baku Zoo. The Zoo was really small then - 40 species of animals inhabiting slightly over 2 acres of land. In 1961 Alina Gadzhibeyli was appointed a director of the Zoo and was running it for thirty two years. By 1970 there were already 90 species of animals. The Zoo was reconstructed and became one of the favorite places of Baku citizens numbering up to 150.000 visits a year. However, the Zoo area was at risk of the land slide and in 1980 City Council together with the Architectural Planning Department of Baku under the leadership of Rasim Aliev decided to relocate the Zoo to the territory next to the Children’s Rail Road. Architects Shoshiev and Verkhovsky developed the project, and in 1985 the new Zoo was opened to the public. It was a park like area numbering already 130 species of animals, many of which were included in the “Red Book”.
We should acknowledge a great contribution of A. Limberansky N.Akhmedov, Polad Byul-Byul Ogly, M. Akhmedov and especially Fira Shekiskaya in building and development of Baku Zoo. :
The present director of Baku Zoo continues the tradition of preserving and increasing the population of animals of the planet of Earth.