An unusually long queue recently formed at the Moscow Zoo, surprisingly not at its main entrance but directly outside the Barrikadnaya metro station. Onlookers noted a significant gathering of people in the middle of the day.
Ramil Kiselev, a producer for Business FM who was in the vicinity, shared his observations: «Around noon, exiting Barrikadnaya metro station proved extremely challenging due to the large number of parents with strollers and young children. The queue stretched extensively along Barrikadnaya Street, reaching Bolshaya Gruzinskaya, with people standing several rows deep. Further along Bolshaya Gruzinskaya, similar crowds were visible at the zoo`s ticket booths and secondary entrances. Typically, on weekdays at this hour, there isn`t such a rush, and the ambiance here is generally more relaxed.»
The Moscow Zoo itself did not report any operational issues, attributing the situation to natural circumstances. When Business FM contacted the zoo, posing as a visitor, a representative offered the following explanation:
«Everything is fine; nothing out of the ordinary has occurred. It`s likely a result of today`s beautiful, sunny weather, with temperatures reaching +25°C, combined with it being the peak visiting time. It`s also worth mentioning that some paid exhibits are closed today for scheduled maintenance, but we are actively working to efficiently manage the flow of visitors. We do have additional entrances, such as the one near Burger King, operating from 10 AM to 6 PM, and another under the pedestrian bridge on Bolshaya Gruzinskaya Street, where there are typically fewer people. We suspect many visitors opt for the metro exit as the most convenient route, preferring not to walk further to alternative entrances. People simply react differently.»
