Editing Moscow Zoo (section)

== History ==
The Moscow Zoo was founded in 1864 by professor-biologists, K.F. Rulje, S.A. Usov and A.P. Bogdanov, from the [[Moscow State University]]. In 1919, the zoo was nationalized. In 1922, the ownership was transferred to the [[Government of Moscow]] and has remained under their control ever since.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Spitsin |first=Vladimir |title=Moscow Zoo, Encyclopedia of the World's Zoos, Volume 2 |publisher=Fitzroy Dearborn |year=2001 |isbn=1-57958-174-9 |pages=830, 834}}</ref>

The zoo had an area of {{Convert|10|ha}} when it first opened, with 286 animals. In 1926, the zoo was expanded to adjacent lands, increasing the area to {{Convert|18|ha}}. 

[[File:Enclosure for baby animals. Moscow Zoo, 1937.jpg|200px|thumb|The "green platform" (1937)]]
In 1933, [[Vera Chaplina]], a naturalist and future writer, created the "green platform", a special enclosure for young animals where different cubs that their mothers refused to feed were not only raised, but also taught to live peacefully together. This experiment aroused great interest among visitors, and for many years the "green platform" remained one of the Moscow Zoo's main attractions.<ref name="ЛГ">{{cite web|language=ru |url=https://lgz.ru/article/N24--6176--2008-06-11-/Zoopark-V%d0%b5r%d1%8b-Chaplinoy4714/|title=Зоопарк Веры Чаплиной|website=Литературная газета |author=Максим Тавьев |date=2008}}</ref><ref> {{cite journal |last=Bryce |first=E.J. |date=1935 |title=Zoological Institutions abroad|journal=Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales|pages=20–24 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/item/119482#page/20/mode/1up{{sfnRef|Bryce}}}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=Lion and lamb play together |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/singfreepressb19330711-1.2.32 |magazine=The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser |location= |publisher= |date=11 July 1933 |access-date=}}</ref>

In 1990, the zoo was renovated. Notable additions include a new main entrance in the shape of a large rock castle, and a footbridge that connected the old (1864) and new (1926) properties of the zoo.

In addition, the zoo was expanded once more. New exhibits were opened including a sea aquarium, an aviary, a creatures of the night exhibit, a sea lion exhibit and a section aimed at children. 

The Moscow zoo has over 7,500 animals representing about 1,000 species and covers an area of about {{Convert|21.5|ha}}.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.museum.ru/M499 | title=Московский зоопарк }}</ref>