Yerevan Zoo, Zoo in Yerevan, Armenia

Yerevan Zoo is a zoological park in the Armenian capital that keeps animals from many parts of the world. The grounds are divided into sections representing different types of habitats, from woodland areas to enclosures for water-loving animals.

The zoo was founded in 1940, making it the first zoological park in Armenia. Over the following decades, it grew into a key place for nature education and expanded its collection of animals considerably.

The zoo is one of the few places in the country where visitors can see Armenian mouflons and Syrian brown bears, animals closely tied to the Caucasus region. Seeing these animals in person gives a sense of how rich the local wildlife once was.

Arriving early in the morning is a good idea, as animals tend to be more active at that time of day. The grounds cover a large area, so comfortable shoes are recommended if you plan to walk through all the sections.

On 14 June 1991 a Mi-8 helicopter struck power lines and crashed inside the zoo grounds, exploding and burning; three crew members died, nobody on the ground was hurt, and part of the metal fence was destroyed. The park's layout was designed in part by architect Grigory Agababyan.