Russia’s first public zoological garden was opened in the Presnya Ponds’ park by the Imperial Society for Acclimatization of Animals and Plants. 286 animals, mostly representatives of local fauna and farm livestock found accommodation in the area of 10 hectares. In 1919, the Zoo was nationalized by the personal order of Lenin. The animals turned into state property and provided Moscow authorities with headache for many years ahead – food, replenishment, reconstruction. Today, the Zoo twice larger in territory houses about 1,000 animals – 8,000 species in total. By the way, do not look for a skating rink described by Lev Tolstoy in Anna Karenina there. It was closed about 100 years ago.