25 October 2026, 17:15
A four-month-old tiger cub has gone missing from the Mykolaiv Zoo
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PHOTO: Mykolaiv Zoo
A four-and-a-half-month-old female tiger cub has escaped from the Mykolaiv Zoo. The search for the animal has been underway since 8:00 a.m., but so far without success.
Zoo director Volodymyr Topchiy reported this on Facebook.
According to him, the tiger cub escaped during the night between Saturday and Sunday by squeezing through the bars of the enclosure’s fence. It has already been determined exactly how the animal managed to do this.
The zoo director noted that the cub is about the size of an adult spaniel. During the search, staff combed the entire zoo grounds and enlisted the help of a dog handler with hunting dogs.
So far, the tiger has not been found. According to Topchiy, the animal is frightened and is likely hiding somewhere. The search continues.
The zoo director promises to provide further updates on the search.
The Mykolaiv Zoo is one of the oldest zoos in Ukraine, founded on April 26, 1901, by Mayor Mykola Leontovych. It is located in Mykolaiv at 1 Mykola Leontovych Square.
The zoo is home to hundreds of animal species, including rare and endangered ones. In 1993, it became the first zoo in Ukraine to be admitted to the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA).
Following the Russian invasion in February 2022, the Mykolaiv Zoo faced shelling, disruptions to water and electricity supplies, and a shortage of animal feed. Eight rocket-propelled shells landed on its grounds, which, according to the zoo, did not explode. Evacuating all the animals was too difficult, so the staff remained to care for them. The zoo received assistance from Mykolaiv residents, volunteers, and European zoos.
Despite the war, the zoo remained open and also took in pets from people who were forced to leave the city. During power outages, staff use generators and additional equipment to heat the enclosures housing heat-loving animals.
