The director of Leningrad zoo (St.-Petersburg, Russia) Irina Skiba has decided to cancel or re-arrange 3 different Departments: Dept of Insectarium and Amphibians, that will lead to the lost of unique collection of the Department formed since the end of 2008, comprises of nearly 100 species of different groups of invertebrates and over 70 species of amphibians.
On the base of the Department working with collection of invertebrates and amphibians we are reaching great success in conservation of different species of insects, arachnids, millipedes, frogs, toads and salamanders/newts including of breeding of rare and endangered species, maintain in-situ and ex-situ conservation programs in cooperation with different Russian and foreign organizations, building of 4 zoo’s expositions, publishing over 10 scientific and scientifically-popular articles, we also develop unique educational programs and excursions for study of children.
According the Order issued by Leningrad zoo director Irina Skiba, all rodent collection not displayed to public has to be given to Vivarium (section which breeds mice and rats for food for other zoo animals).
The list of rodents shall be obviously further used as food, contains of reproductive groups (excluding 1 species) of 15 species in number of 208 specimens and is remains of the entire rodent collection of Zoo.
Among 15 species one is IUCN Red data book (LC) and Red book of Russian Federation - Eolagurus luteus - considered as species threatened with extinction.
Both actions together with preparation of restructuration of Stabling Department which may lost the unique training birds of prey shows forced 29 zoo workers to appeal to the city of Saint-Petersburg Vice-Governor and Commitee for Culture for dismiss Leningrad zoo director, Irina Skiba!
We kindly ask you to prevent the execution of such an actions on our beloved animals and for the sake of all those visitors and their children, who are willing to attend and visit our exhibitions, excursions and educational programs.
Please, send your responses to one or all of below listed e-mail addresses and on-line forms to stop this irresponsible actions of zoo director!
kichedzhi@gov.spb.ru (Vice Governor of Saint-Petersburg, Vasily Kichedzhi)
mus@kkult.gov.spb.ru
kkult@gov.spb.ru (Committee for Culture of city of Saint-Petersburg)
Mikhail F. Bagaturov, Anna A. Bagaturova, Kirill Yu. Danilov and other 26 Leningrad zoo workers.
