Among the professors at that time, AnatoHi Bogdanov, whotaught at the University of Moscow, was one of the most outstanding, both for his initiative and tremendous activity. It was Prof. Bog
danov who founded the “Moscow Society of Natural Science”,, the “Society for Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants” and also the Polytechnical Museum. Himself an ardent enthusiast in the cause of popularising natural science, Bogdanov strove to bring its
principles to the general knowledge of the masses. Although his activities did savour of the slightly ostentatious “museum-exhibition
like” nature, “however”, as K. Timiryazev writes, “however it may have been, a lasting monument to the activities of Prof. Bogdanov and to the Society of Lovers of Natural History founded by him in
Moscow, is to be witnessed in his Polytechnical Museum, which,, together with the Agricultural Museum which was established somewhat earlier in St. Petersburg, nevertheless represents an appro
ach to that which had already been established and introduced in nearly all the large cities of Europe”.1
Professor Bogdanov was also the initiator and founder of the Moscow Zoological Gardens. At the regular conference of the So
ciety for Acclimatisation ot Animals and Plants, in 1857, he read a paper in which he expounded the necessity of establishing a public Zoological Garden in Moscow. Prof. Bogdanov found support in this proposal and with great energy and enthusiasm,
he set about putting this idea into practice. But he had to spend seven years until finally the Moscow Zoological Gardens was ceremoniously inaugurated.
The tsarist authorities displayed a contemptuous attitude towards those who launched out on this undertaking. At the beginning, desirous of demonstrating their benevolent attitude towards science, the government condescendingly ordered that part of the territory of the Neskuchni Gardens be allotted for the Zoological Gardens. The Society for Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants forthwith effected all the preparatory work entailed in order to open the Zoo
in the Neskuchni. Suddenly, by “supreme command” the order giving permission for the establishment of the Zoological Gardens was revoked. The directors of the Society were notified that “his supreme highness the emperor had not deemed it fit to grant permission to arrange a Zoological Garden in the Neskuchni”.2
Everything had to start again from the beginning. It was no easy matter to find a suitable territory within the city precincts
of capitalist Moscow. After many fruitless searchings, the choice came to rest on the so-called Presnya Ponds, the spot upon which the Old Territory of the present-day Zoo now stands.
1 K. Timiryazev, “Development of Natural Sciences in Russia in the ’Sixties”, (Page 44).
2 Archives of the Moscow Zoological Gardens. Letter from the „Ministry of
Crown Properties, dated Feb. 24th, 1863.
danov who founded the “Moscow Society of Natural Science”,, the “Society for Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants” and also the Polytechnical Museum. Himself an ardent enthusiast in the cause of popularising natural science, Bogdanov strove to bring its
principles to the general knowledge of the masses. Although his activities did savour of the slightly ostentatious “museum-exhibition
like” nature, “however”, as K. Timiryazev writes, “however it may have been, a lasting monument to the activities of Prof. Bogdanov and to the Society of Lovers of Natural History founded by him in
Moscow, is to be witnessed in his Polytechnical Museum, which,, together with the Agricultural Museum which was established somewhat earlier in St. Petersburg, nevertheless represents an appro
ach to that which had already been established and introduced in nearly all the large cities of Europe”.1
Professor Bogdanov was also the initiator and founder of the Moscow Zoological Gardens. At the regular conference of the So
ciety for Acclimatisation ot Animals and Plants, in 1857, he read a paper in which he expounded the necessity of establishing a public Zoological Garden in Moscow. Prof. Bogdanov found support in this proposal and with great energy and enthusiasm,
he set about putting this idea into practice. But he had to spend seven years until finally the Moscow Zoological Gardens was ceremoniously inaugurated.
The tsarist authorities displayed a contemptuous attitude towards those who launched out on this undertaking. At the beginning, desirous of demonstrating their benevolent attitude towards science, the government condescendingly ordered that part of the territory of the Neskuchni Gardens be allotted for the Zoological Gardens. The Society for Acclimatisation of Animals and Plants forthwith effected all the preparatory work entailed in order to open the Zoo
in the Neskuchni. Suddenly, by “supreme command” the order giving permission for the establishment of the Zoological Gardens was revoked. The directors of the Society were notified that “his supreme highness the emperor had not deemed it fit to grant permission to arrange a Zoological Garden in the Neskuchni”.2
Everything had to start again from the beginning. It was no easy matter to find a suitable territory within the city precincts
of capitalist Moscow. After many fruitless searchings, the choice came to rest on the so-called Presnya Ponds, the spot upon which the Old Territory of the present-day Zoo now stands.
1 K. Timiryazev, “Development of Natural Sciences in Russia in the ’Sixties”, (Page 44).
2 Archives of the Moscow Zoological Gardens. Letter from the „Ministry of
Crown Properties, dated Feb. 24th, 1863.