Chișinău Zoo — Zoo in Chișinău

Chișinău Zoo and its collection

Chișinău Zoo is a zoo in Chișinău, Moldova.

Enclosures sit in parkland, and an extensive central section holds many aviaries for further bird species. The zoo works closely with the Moldovan Academy of Sciences and the environment ministry.

History

It was formally inaugurated in May 1978 as a new culture and leisure institution, at a time when the city was expanding with new housing districts, and was laid out opposite the botanical garden, which had opened five years earlier. Before it existed, residents could see animals only briefly, when travelling menageries came through.

Animals and collection

A count in mid-June 2023 found 1,034 animals of 138 species, among them mammals, reptiles and birds, with ten species rated endangered. A large pond carries geese, ducks, swans and herons.

What the venue says

• on-site snack options or kiosks selling light bites like coffee and cotton candy
• Parking options are available near the entrance area.
• The zoo offers extensive paved and wide walkways without stairs, making it reasonably accessible for visitors with strollers or wheelchairs, though navigating the hillside terrain may require some effort in certain areas.