Sakhalin Zoological and Botanical Park, Zoo and botanical garden in Sakhalin, Russia.
The Sakhalin Zoological and Botanical Park occupies four hectares of forest in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, on the site of a former country kindergarten. Its animal collection grew from 47 animals of 21 species in 1995 to 176 species and 533 specimens by December 2016. The botanical collection holds 12 shrub species, 15 tree species, 7 lianas, 90 cultivated plants, 80 herbaceous plants and 40 fungi.
A zoo corner existed in the city park during the Japanese period of 1905–1945, keeping bears, deer and rare birds; after the war residents recalled swans on the Upper Pond, long called Swan Lake. In April 1989 the city executive committee approved a zoo in the park's north-western section, and on 1 December 1993 Mayor I. P. Farkhutdinov created the municipal Sakhalin Zoo. In 1995 it became a city cultural institution, and in September 2000 the governor ordered its reconstruction and renaming as a zoological and botanical park under regional ownership.
The park displays animals and plants native to Sakhalin, helping visitors understand the natural diversity of this island region. The exhibits show how local wildlife fits into the broader ecosystem that surrounds the area.
The park is located near Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and can be visited year-round with guided tours available through the animal areas and botanical sections. Visitors should bring comfortable shoes since the grounds are explored on foot and conditions vary depending on the season.
The park runs breeding programs for endangered animal species that live specifically on Sakhalin and have become rare in the wild. This work makes it an important place for protecting animals that are hard to find elsewhere in nature.
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