Tashkent Zoo, Zoo in Yunusabad district, Uzbekistan
Tashkent Zoo is a zoo in the Yunusobod district of the Uzbek capital, holding a wide range of mammals, reptiles, birds, and fish in open-air enclosures. On the same grounds, an aquarium with large viewing windows and special lighting lets visitors observe sharks and moray eels at close range.
The zoo was founded in 1924 on the site of an art museum, making it one of the earliest institutions of its kind in Central Asia. It moved to its current location in Yunusobod in 1997, when the city chose to build a dedicated facility on a new plot of land.
The zoo is a popular family destination in Yunusobod, where locals bring children on weekends to walk among open enclosures and watch animals at close range. The aquarium section draws particular attention, with large windows that let visitors stand face to face with sharks and eels.
The zoo is laid out so visitors can explore on foot, with signs and information panels scattered throughout to help with orientation. The aquarium is a separate section within the grounds and benefits from a longer visit, since the lighting and tank sizes make it worth taking your time.
The zoo runs breeding programs for birds of prey, including the white-headed griffon vulture and several eagle species that are very rarely seen outside captivity in this part of the world. Visitors who arrive early in the morning tend to catch these birds at their most active, before the heat of the day sets in.
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