Published on: 2026-10-19
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
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Work Moscow Zoo, subordinate to the metropolitan Department of Culture, is unthinkable without keepers. They monitor the health and condition of the animals, feed them, clean the enclosures, conduct training sessions, and create comfortable conditions for each species. The specialists not only love their wards, but they also know almost everything about them, can quickly respond to any emergency situations, accurately assess risks, and demonstrate boundless patience.
“Keepers need iron discipline and incredible patience to precisely repeat the complex and often exhausting care procedures. It’s important to respond instantly to problems. There are no trivial details in this matter: the wrong color of the droppings, holding the paw incorrectly — that’s already a reason to be alert. And it doesn’t matter what kind of animals they are — rodents or tigers. In critical moments, the group of keepers must reorganize like a school of fish or starlings when a threat appears, when everyone acts in unison,” reflects Mikhail Bragin, head of the mammal department of the Moscow Zoo.
To dedicate life to the zoo
Mikhail Bragin has been connected with the Moscow Zoo for 33 years. As a teenager, he attended the zoo’s young biologists’ club, where he gained basic knowledge, learned how to apply it, and to take responsibility for the consequences of his actions. Over the years, he progressed from a young naturalist to a keeper, and then headed one of the most challenging departments.
“In my childhood, I had many different pets: cats, birds, rodents, reptiles. Probably, it was then that a special attitude towards animals was formed, which later led me to the zoo. When someone lives nearby all the time, you get used to observing and caring. It’s not a hobby but a way of life. At 13, as part of a club, I studied bison at the Kostroma biological station. They roamed freely, not behind fences. For the first time, I realized how dangerous a wild animal can be, with which you cannot negotiate, but at the same time, it may also need human help,” recalls the zoologist.
Mikhail Bragin worked extensively in the wild until he suffered a serious injury. After that, he dedicated himself to the inhabitants of the Moscow Zoo. His duties include daily rounds of the enclosures and monitoring the work of keepers, handling documentation, and managing the large facilities. The specialist also participates in training sessions and complex procedures, such as transporting animals, and responds to all reports from keepers and zoologists.
“In the wild, you can observe an animal, study it, but not interact. If it gets sick—you cannot help. But in a zoo, you are fully responsible for the animal: you provide living conditions, train, treat, and care for it. And if something goes wrong, you can’t blame nature: you have to do something,” believes Mikhail Bragin.
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A place where everything makes sense
Almost 40 years ago, animal technician Nina Tuzova began her career at the Moscow Zoo as an animal care worker. On her very first day, she faced a serious challenge — cleaning the enclosure of the Malayan bears Solomon and Soloha. Dangerous predators first had to be lured into another room, then the enclosure cleaned, and finally the bears let back in. Today, animal technician Nina Tuzova oversees many important areas of work in the department: she monitors the feed base, collaborates with colleagues to determine a balanced diet for each ward, plans enclosure repairs, upcoming offspring, and addresses current tasks. If necessary, she also performs keeper duties.
Nina began loving and caring for animals back in her childhood. When going on vacation or on business, relatives entrusted her with the care of their pets: cats, dogs, and even a turtle.
“At some point, I realized that I would work with animals. And when I came to the zoo, I was convinced that this is the place where everything makes sense. Here, you are responsible for the animals on a professional level. The animal won’t say where it hurts, won’t complain that it feels bad. And if you are not attentive enough to it, a tragedy can happen. My life is inextricably linked with the Moscow Zoo; I can’t imagine any other fate for myself,” Nina Tuzova says with confidence.
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Training with a leopard
Roman Makarov Kiper came to work in the mammal department of the Moscow Zoo two years ago. His morning starts with a round of the enclosures, followed by feeding and cleaning, and during the day he needs to carefully observe the animals and conduct planned trainings.
“I work with different animals. These include a puma, leopard, lynxes, bush dogs, brown hyenas, Malayan bears, Pallas’s cats, red wolves, binturongs. Puma and leopard are probably the most dangerous predators. But they are the most interesting to work with. At one time, I was very surprised that the leopard Mizer calmly enters the transport cage, allows his claws to be treated, and blood to be drawn from his tail. This is the result of long work by keepers and zoologists,” says Roman Makarov.
The young goalkeeper has no favorites. Each of his charges has their own unique characteristics that are interesting to observe.
“To build a trusting relationship with an animal, you need to ensure its safety: speak calmly, move without sudden motions, and reinforce positive moments with treats. When I first came to the bush dogs, I was met by 23 individuals! I was confused and didn’t know how to interact with them. They have a hierarchy, roles, and relationships established, and you have to somehow fit into this system. But with experience, everything started to work out; I learned to distinguish them by character and behavior, and gradually the pack accepted me,” shares the young keeper.
To better understand animals, Roman Makarov plans to study zoopsychology. He considers training sessions to be the most interesting part of his work.
“You learn to understand the animal, and it learns to trust you. I have already participated in training sessions with leopard Miser, and it was one of the most powerful experiences of my life,” concludes Roman Makarov.
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Raise Akela
Anastasia Pugacheva’s desire to dedicate herself to animals also originated back in school. Watching TV programs about the work of keepers, she seemed to immerse herself in another world. And when she did an internship at the Moscow Zoo during her university studies, she was completely convinced that this was her place, and in 2022, she began her duties as a keeper.
“Several years ago, brown hyenas arrived at the zoo. One of them turned out to be very timid: it was afraid to enter the enclosure and fled at every rustle. We gradually tamed the animal: we announced our approach with a voice, quietly came closer, and carefully offered food. At first, the hyena lingered at the entrance, then started stepping inside for a second, then for several seconds. And at some point, it stayed inside. But it wouldn’t eat until the person left. So I just sat and waited. This could last for 40 minutes. But I achieved the result. We began to trust each other,” recalls Anastasia Pugacheva.
Since then, a special bond has been established between the young keeper and the brown hyenas. According to Anastasia, these animals have interesting traits. For instance, they can hear the keeper approaching from several meters away, come outside, and watch for him. Also, hyenas can move on their elbows. In the wild, they use this skill for hunting.
“The most touching story in my practice was brown hyena Akela. Many have heard about him. His mother died a few days after giving birth. I was working the day we had to take the puppy for bottle feeding. I remember the feeling that now a little creature’s life depended on me. From the first days, I watched Akela grow up, saw how he grew, learned, explored the world around him, how touchingly he hunted a plush turtle. And I rejoiced at his successes,” shares Anastasia Pugacheva.
Akele is now two years old. He lives in the old zoo area near the enclosures of the puma and domestic yaks. You can watch him and other inhabitants of the Moscow Zoo without leaving your home during the daily online broadcasts.
About 15,700 are kept at the Moscow Zoo animals. More than half of them belong to rare and endangered species. In 2025, for the first time in over 160 years of the zoo’s operation, giant otters appeared there; they were named Vasco, Fidel, and Sevil. A spacious enclosure of over 300 square meters was created for the animals, resembling the tropical forests of the Amazon. Last year, after many years, the ‘Sun Bears’ exhibition featuring Malayan bears Masha, Luchik, and Zvezdochka also opened for the first time. These animals can also be seen during the daily online broadcasts.
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