Dushanbe Zoo — Zoo in Dushanbe

Dushanbe Zoo and its collection

Dushanbe Zoo, opened in 1960, is a zoo in Dushanbe, Tajikistan.

The grounds stand on the Luchob riverbank on Ismoili Somoni Avenue, beside Pamir Stadium, and take up about twice the stadium's footprint. The mild local climate permits tropical animals to live outdoors.

History

Founded in 1960, the zoo held 1,059 animals of 254 species by 1974 and rated among the better ones in the Soviet Union. After a bear mauled a student's arm there in 2006, pupils writing between Dushanbe and Albion, Indiana worked up safety ideas for the site. That effort brought a $75,000 American Alliance of Museums grant in 2007 for volunteers, fencing, signs, a garden, a picnic area and a playground.

What the venue says

• two duck ponds
• shaded pathways
• small children's rides
• green recreational lawns
• On-site options are typically limited to small refreshment stands, kiosks, or snack vendors.
• Street-side and informal parking options are available nearby along Ismoil Somoni Avenue, though spaces can be limited during peak weekend hours.
• generally flat and accessible by foot
• older infrastructure, unpaved dirt trails, or steps that may require caution for strollers or visitors with mobility considerations