The director of the Tbilisi Zoo, Zurab Gurielidze, says the new zoo near Tbilisi Sea is set to open in the first half of July.
Speaking on Sakmiani Dila (Business Morning) Gurielidze says infrastructure works, including landscaping, are currently underway.
The new zoo will feature larger enclosures and updated expositions. At the first stage, the Caucasus exposition will open, combining exhibition and conservation functions, including the protection and restoration of endangered species.
“We plan to open the zoo in the first half of July, although at this stage it is difficult for me to name the exact date,” Gurielidze said. “This exposition has a dual purpose — it is both an exhibition space and a conservation area, which is one of the main roles of zoos.”
He adds that the project is supported by the municipality and funded under the current year’s budget.
“The Caucasus exposition will soon be joined by the African exposition, for which financial resources have also been provided,” he said. “We assume that by the end of the year or at the latest at the beginning of next year, additional enclosures will be completed, after which it will be possible to bring giraffes.”
Gurielidze says the entrance fee for the new zoo has not yet been determined, noting that tariffs are set in agreement with relevant authorities. He adds that the existing zoo will continue to operate, offering different species and exhibitions.
The new Tbilisi Zoo location near the Tbilisi Sea was selected after the June 13, 2015 tragedy. The new zoo covers 48 hectares and required an investment of about $50 million.
