Ashgabat Zoo
{{short description|Zoo in Ahal Region, Turkmenistan}}
{{use dmy dates|date=February 2023}}
{{use British English|date=February 2023}}
{{Infobox zoo
| zoo_name = Ashgabat Zoo
| logo =
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| image =
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| location = Gökdere, Gökdepe District, Ahal Region, Turkmenistan
| date_opened = 1932 {{small|(original location)}}
12 October 2010 {{small|(current location)}}
| coordinates =
| area = {{cvt|40|hectare}}
| num_species = 250
}}
{{WikidataCoord}}
The National Museum of Wildlife ({{langx|tk|Janly tebigatyň milli muzeýi}}), commonly known in English as Ashgabat Zoo ({{langx|tk|link=no|Aşgabat haýwanat bagy}}), is a zoological garden—zoo—located in the locality of Gökdere, Gökdepe District, Ahal Region, Turkmenistan, just west of the capital Ashgabat. It covers an area of roughly {{cvt|40|hectare}} and houses over 250 species. It is administered by the Ministry of Nature Protection, a sub-ministry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.
History
Ashgabat Zoo, originally located near Teke Bazaar within Ashgabat, first opened in the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic in 1932.{{efn|Turkmenistan achieved independence in 1991.}} By 2005, the zoo was described as derelict and the enclosures too small to sufficiently house the animals, with dictator Saparmurat Niyazov having announced plans to relocate the zoo to a more spacious location.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fG9zk5Y3MugC |last=Brummell |first=Paul |title=Turkmenistan |year=2005 |publisher=Bradt Travel Guides |page=93 |isbn=978-184-1621-449 |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=13 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230213072054/https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Turkmenistan/fG9zk5Y3MugC |url-status=live }}{{cite book |last=Mayhew |first=Bradley |year=2007 |title=Central Asia |publisher=Lonely Planet |page=410 |isbn=978-174-1046-144}} The zoo moved to its current location in Gökdere on 12 October 2010. Animals from dictator Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow's personal menagerie were also moved to the new location. During its opening day, visitors complained about the lack of shade or water provided for the animals. An employee at the zoo told the Institute for War and Peace Reporting that there were "temporary difficulties" due to a nearby construction site consuming much of the available water.{{cite news |url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/zoo-latest-prestige-project-turkmenistan |title=Zoo is Latest Prestige Project for Turkmenistan |date=25 October 2010 |work=Institute for War and Peace Reporting |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129220418/https://iwpr.net/global-voices/zoo-latest-prestige-project-turkmenistan |url-status=live }} In July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashgabat Zoo limited its activities to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. It resumed normal activities in April 2021,{{cite news |url=https://turkmenportal.com/tm/blog/35830/ashgabatdaky-janly-tebigatyn-muzeyi-gaytadan-ishlap-bashlady |title=Aşgabatdaky Janly tebigatyň muzeýi gaýtadan işläp başlady |trans-title=The National Museum of Wildlife in Ashgabat has started working |language=Turkmen |date=12 April 2021 |work=Turkmenportal |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129220419/https://turkmenportal.com/tm/blog/35830/ashgabatdaky-janly-tebigatyn-muzeyi-gaytadan-ishlap-bashlady |url-status=live }} although private news agency Arzuw reports that it only fully reopened in April 2022.{{cite news |url=https://arzuw.news/en/glavnyj-zoopark-turkmenistana-snova-otkryt |title=Turkmenistan's main zoo reopened |date=21 April 2022 |work=Arzuw News |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=29 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129220419/https://arzuw.news/en/glavnyj-zoopark-turkmenistana-snova-otkryt |url-status=live }}
Fauna
Some {{cvt|40|hectare}} in size, Ashgabat Zoo has over 250 different species of fauna. It is administered by the Ministry of Nature Protection, a sub-ministry of the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/tm/tm-nr-03-en.doc |first=Jumamurad |last=Saparmuradov |year=2006 |title=Implementation of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity |publisher=Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan |agency=Government of Turkmenistan |access-date=29 January 2023 |archive-date=9 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220809140442/https://www.cbd.int/doc/world/tm/tm-nr-03-en.doc |url-status=live }} Excluding the indoor aquarium, the enclosures are divided into four zones—African savannah, predators, ungulates, and aviary.
See also
Notes
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References
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{{Ashgabat}}
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Category:Tourist attractions in Ashgabat
Category:Educational organizations established in 1932