Animal lovers finally have an alternative to Kyiv’s notorious zoo, whose reputation has been tainted in recent years by mysterious animal deaths and other scandals.
Two exhibitions in Ukraine’s capital are becoming increasingly popular with tourists and locals alike.
Featuring rare reptiles and mammals from across the world, the “Discover Your Ekzoworld” petting zoo was launched last spring at Dreamtown, a major shopping center on the north side of the city.
Another, darker place, to stop by is Night World, an exhibition at the Kyiv Natural History Museum. Located in the very center of Kyiv on 15 Bohdana Khmelnytsky St. (metro station Teatralna), it has more than 50 species of nocturnal animals on display.
With the cold weather of winter around the corner, the next half year is a good time to visit both indoor exhibitions.
The staff at both venues is friendly and skilled. Admission costs about Hr 20 for children and Hr 50 for adults.
The zoo is owned by Bion Terrarium Center, which runs an animal breeding laboratory in Kyiv. Some of the animals exhibited in Ekzoland were bred there while the rest were brought from foreign and domestic zoos.
Ekzoland
More than 30 rare species are on display at Ekzoland, an indoor zoo which opened its doors last May at the older section of Dreamtown, the Obolon district shopping center that stretches from metro stations Obolon to Minska. The 300 square meter exhibition is situated on center’s third floor, by the food court.
You can get a glimpse of little tamarinds weighting about 300 grams or a giant Indian python several meters in size among the many animals exhibited here.
One of the hottest attractions, though, is Ukraine’s sensational two-headed tortoise. It has two heads, six paws and a single intestine. It’s was previously displayed to Kyivans in March during an exhibition held at the Natural History Museum.
“These are conjoined twins, a rare case,” said project coordinator Natalia Kalymbet. “They would not survive in ordinary conditions. Here we provide them with special support.”
“We let the visitors touch almost all of the animals and take pictures of them. They can also learn how to feed them,” said Kalymbet. Feeding chameleons is arguably the most exciting process, she added.
Most of the animals are kept in wos. There are even two families – giant tree frogs and African pancake tortoises.
“They are reproducing which means they are well-kept here,” Kalymbet said. One of the iguanas is expected to lay eggs in a couple of weeks, she added.
About 3,000 people visited Ekzoland in August.
One recent visitor was Israel’s Pini Ezra. “This place is so nice. Just like everything here in Kyiv,” the visiting tourist said while holding an iguana as friends snapped a photograph.
The animals are kept in premises that closely resemble their natural habitat, according to Kalymbet. Artificial plants placed inside the warrens are perhaps the only thing that offends the eye.
“The plants need natural lighting which can’t be recreated here. That’s why we use artificial ones,” she explained.
“We don’t want our visitors to come here and feel pity for the animals, like when they do while visiting the Kyiv Zoo. Visitors are to have a pleasurable and restful experience,” Kalymbet said.
Enter Night World
The excitement at Night World kicks off at the very onset. Visitors are handed flashlights upon entrance.
“It’s the first exhibition of this kind in Ukraine,” said Dmytro Didenko, a zoo technician at Night World exhibition. “There are similar ones in Europe and other former Soviet republics, but in Ukraine it has no analog.”
The majority of the animals kept at Night World are active at night rather than during the daytime. You can expect to see anything from a little piebald shrew a few centimeters in size to giant venomous snakes several meters long.
Special black light technology imitates the darkness. Flash lights are sometimes needed to get a good view of the animals.
The exhibition is accompanied with sounds recreating voices of the various nocturnal animals. Scientific films are screened to provide more depth on the lives and habits of animals displayed.
“It’s great. We have been there three times already,” said Mariya Kuchma, who came to the exhibition with her granddaughter.
Ekzoland
Dreamtown, 3rd floor
1B Obolonsky Ave.
Admission – Hr 50 adults, Hr 25 kids
free for kids under 3
11:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.(Monday – Thursday)
11 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Friday, weekend, holidays)
Feeding animals
2 p.m. – tortoises and dragons
4 p.m. – green iguana
6 p.m. – tamarinds
8 p.m. – two-head tortoise
Night World
Natural History Museum
15 Bohdana Khmelnytskogo St.
Admission – Hr 40 adults, Hr 25 kids
free for kids under 3
10 a.m. – 8 p.m. (closed on Monday, Tuesday)
Kyiv Post staff writer Anastasia Forina can be reached at [email protected]
