Published on: 2026-09-23
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
With the onset of autumn, the warmth-loving inhabitants of the Moscow Zoo, subordinate to the city, Department of Culture. The parrots were the first to be moved to the heated pavilions. Other animals will be relocated as the weather gets colder.
“Autumn for the zoo is a time of careful seasonal adjustment. We are guided not only by the calendar but also by the weather and the well-being of each animal. Some have already comfortably settled in warm pavilions, some are still continuing to walk outside, and for others we maintain the option: to go outside or stay warm. At the same time, all our inhabitants remain within the exhibition area: zoo visitors will be able to see them even in the cold season,” noted Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.
From parrots to Japanese cranes
All the parrots are already in warm aviaries. Among them are the Alexandrine, African grey, eagle, plum-headed, green-cheeked, and small ring-necked parrots, as well as the Goffin’s cockatoo, blue-and-yellow macaw, and yellow-crowned Amazon. They can be seen in the right wing of the “Bird House” pavilion. Here, a comfortable temperature is maintained for these warmth-loving birds.
Soon they will be joined by casque-headed cassowaries — exotic birds native to New Guinea, as well as one of the smartest and strongest birds — the Cape horned crows. The crow family lives in two aviaries: the parents and separately their grown offspring. The young feathered ones have a heated house in the outdoor aviary where they can go to warm up, so their move will take place around October — slightly later than their parents. In the second half of autumn, cranes of various species will move into the “Bird House,” including Stanley, hooded, black-necked, and crowned cranes. And the Japanese cranes, accustomed to harsh winters, will remain in the outdoor aviary — they also have a warm house for periods of severe frost. Moreover, it is possible to observe the Japanese cranes all year round online.
Zebras, honey badgers, and a giraffe
For the duration of the cold weather, almost all the native residents of the hot continent will be relocated to the “Animals of Africa” pavilion. Soon, dikdiks — miniature antelopes — will be sent there, and Ksyusha, the pygmy hippopotamus, will be housed in a separate enclosure. There, as in the outdoor enclosure, she has a pool and everything necessary for her. comfortable living. In late September – October, African predators will be moved to the warm pavilion: honey badgers and meerkats.
The inhabitants of the African glade — Grevy’s zebras and a female South African giraffe — will live outside until October–November. Then the female giraffe named Lipa will move to the pavilion, and the zebras will be allowed to go for walks from the warm enclosures even during snowy frosty winters. They can also be observed online.
Orangutans and gorillas
Primates still go for walks. Most of them have access to the outdoors. On sunny days, when the air temperature rises to plus 13 degrees and above, they go for walks orangutans and gorillas. They are given the freedom to choose: to go outside and warm up in the rays of the sun or to stay indoors.
Llama, capybaras, and anteaters
When the thermometer columns drop below plus five degrees, the anteaters and the family will move to warm enclosures capybaras. But their neighbors on the South American lawn — the llama, vicuña, and guanaco — live in an outdoor enclosure year-round.
The zoo specialists closely monitor the weather and the well-being of the animals. If necessary, they will adjust the relocation dates.
At the beginning of 2025, the Moscow Zoo set a world record for the number of animal species represented: it housed 1,253 species. By 2026, their number approached 1,280. This achievement became possible thanks to the many years of work by the entire team, including zoologists, veterinarians, keepers, and other specialists.
The program of events at the Moscow Zoo contributes to the implementation of the goals and objectives of the national project in the capital “Environmental Well-being”. More about Russia’s national projects and the capital’s contribution — at special page.
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