Don't know about PETA, it doesn't inspect Russian zoos.
All the new exhibits (for elephants & bears) were somewhat simplified comparing to the actual projects. The reason is probably the lack of money.
A new exhibit for such a species is a milestone in a zoo's history and won't be rebuilt in many years. Everything should be made as good for the animals as possible.
But they just didn't care. All-concrete exhibits in a zoo with TON of free space are ridiculous and pointless.
Well I think that it is mostly because of the fact that the young female from Zoo Brno(czech republic) will arrive here. Czech zoo fans are in this incredibly fast and just couple of minutes after new house for some popular zoo-baby is annouced, they know everything about it.
And 3 wild-caught fur seals are far less valuable than a captive-born polar bear female.
Marine mammals are fairly easy to get in Russia, they're just 'natural resources'.
The female polar bear Kometa arrived to Rostov a few days ago. She is now in a quarantine probably.
Still if possible, could someone please take some photos of the current state of the enclosure? There were supposed to be some improvements.
If the female is visible somewhere, then some photos of her?
She lives at the Brown bears exhibit (since Polar bear exhibit was not expanded as planned).
Here's a pic of original exhibit. http://www.zoochat.com/2051/brown-bear-exhibit-340692/
For the polar bear, water level was raised so both moat & pool are filled.
Here's a recent report about the bear from the zoo's site. Note the last pic, showing the actual water level. http://zoopark-rostov.ru/news/item138.html
And it's still unclear where the new male lives now
What is going on in Russia as well as in other former SU contries is just a crime. Millions are spend on new zoos, new facilities and anmal purchases, most if not all of them bad to inhumane. There was recently an importation of no less than 900 squirrell monkeys to Ukraine, bonobos, gorillas, rare guenons imported to Armenia (a restaurant with "attractions" like baby bonobos joining wedding party - see jambo restaurant Armenia movie). And what? Nothing. Nobody wants to offend Russia (or China) where the same is happening, although seems that at least China is moving forward with help of professionals from the West). Look at pictures from a shopping mall "zoo" in Moscow. Young. obvioslu illegally traded gibbons sitting on artificial floor with no branches, ropes or anything in an enclosed glass fronted tank. cheetas in the same set-up. European, qualified zoos shall refrain for the time being from sending any animals there.
The problem is that new zoos/facilities are private, their owners have loads of money but little initial knowledge about animal needs/husbandry, and most of them just refuse to learn, trying to make money on their animals by selling them.
For example, the widely-advertised private facility 'Exotic Park' near Moscow breeds only a portion of species that they sell, other ones are just imported and packed in offshow areas in small cages. Pre-payment is required, and in many cases the customers get sick animal (it may be even another species!!!), or just nothing.
They defrauded our zoo in animal exchange and refuse to send animals or payment.
And official zoos in Russia don't get enough money from government to improve the husbandry of their animals!!!
The weekend ticket in Rostov zoo is less than $3 for adult (100 rubles) and raising the price would cause visitor numbers to decrease.
