Tashir launches a unique Exotarium in Moscow

Tashir Group announces the opening of an exotarium of exotic species in the RIO shopping centre on Dmitrovskoye highway. This is the only shopping centre to house an exotarium in Russia: its main feature is the opportunity to meet the animals, many of which have not been seen before in any of the country's zoos. Covering an area of 3,500 square metres, the exotarium is home to over 400 species of animals from across the world, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. The small (red) Panda, Borneo orang-utan, hornbill and a clouded leopard are among the examples not currently represented in any other zoo in Russia. The interior is styled in accordance with the natural features of Africa, South America, Australia and Southeast Asia. The animals are housed in special cages mirroring natural habitat and climatic conditions as close as possible. The Rio project is run in accordance with all the necessary requirements for the display of animals, and demonstrates an innovative approach to the organisation of space in animal keeping.

The unique technology and design solutions allow visitors to not only view the animals, but to also become integrated into their landscape and observe their feeding processes. Zara Agemian, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing of Tashir: "Tashir Group aims to provide visitors to its shopping centres with interesting and fascinating leisure opportunities, so we are continuously searching for new ideas. The starting point in our development of innovative forms of entertainment within our centres was the opening of Moscow's first Oceanarium in RIO on the Dmitrovskoye highway. Today we are pleased to announce a new unique project - the Exotarium, which has been realised in just six months. Designed for the family audience, our project encourages a respectful and caring attitude to nature, while at the same time providing an example of a modern organisation of space for housing animals in a comfortable environment."

Timofey Bazhenov, zoologist, author and presenter of television programmes: "The animals feel very comfortable thanks to the thoughtful zoning with conditions as close to their natural environment as possible; and the proof of this is the recent breeding of some of the species. Moreover, the exotarium in the form in which it is operating, is very interesting to children because they can observe the animals from a very close distance, and become acquainted with their habits and behaviour. Therefore, in addition to the provision of entertainment, the exotarium wonderfully realises its cognitive function.

According to the experience of Tashir Group, which opened Moscow's first oceanarium in 2011 within its RIO complex, the exotarium is able to attract an average of about 2 million people a year. In the near future the company is planning to open a further exotarium in its RIO shopping centre in St. Petersburg. The construction of the exotarium has taken six months, with a volume of investments of about 5 million USD.