Odesa Zoo, Zoo in central Odesa, Ukraine

The Odesa Zoo occupies a site on Novoshchepnyi Ryad, 25, in the Illichivskyi district, next to the Pryvoz Market. Its collection numbers 252 species and 1,560 specimens: 94 fish, 7 amphibian, 39 reptile, 78 bird and 33 mammal species. The grounds include an aquarium-terrarium and a nursery for birds of prey and owls.

The first zoo project dates from 1889, and a 1914 plan for the botanical garden was approved but blocked by war. In 1922 the "Yugoklimat" society under Heinrich Beizert built a zoo near the Vorontsov Palace lower garden; it closed in 1928. A stationary zoo opened to visitors in 1938 on Novoshchepny Ryad, next to the Pryvoz market, on the site of the former Christian cemetery.

The zoo sits across from the Pryvoz Market, one of the busiest spots in the city, so many visitors combine both places in a single outing. Children from across the region come here on school trips, making it a regular part of life in Odesa.

A visit is possible at any time of year, though dry weather makes it easier to move between the outdoor sections. Comfortable shoes help, as the paths between enclosures cover a fair amount of ground.

The zoo holds Ukraine's largest collection of birds of prey, with dedicated breeding programs for several species. Some of these birds are gradually prepared for release back into the wild.