Zita the ligress
Meet our unique Siberian love child, a female cross between a lion and a tigress, and the undisputed star of Novosibirsk Zoo.
The unusual big cats were born to ligress Zita, a cross between an African lion and a Bengal tigress.
Kiara, born to a ligress and a lion, is so unusual that no-one seems sure what to call her.
Overseas visitors to Novosibirsk Zoo will be able to learn about attractions and use GPS technology to explore using their phones.
Biggest and 'best' in Russia, it is more like a 'reserve' than a traditional zoo.
Foreign visitors transiting on Russian airlines will be able to stay for 72 hours without documents as part of move to help boost tourism and economy.
Baby Gertruda is growing fast but is too playful to stay still on the scales long enough for a weight check.
With more than 11,000 animals from 702 species - about 150 of them are from them World Red Book - Novosibirsk Zoo is a popular tourist attraction with almost a million visitors annually, and a noted scientific institution.
One of the largest in Russia, it boasts a world record in captive breeding programmes for endangered species.
Rostislav Shilo, Zoo’s Director since 1969, says that there are only two other self-supporting zoos in the world - in Singapore and in San Diego.
Sent to Siberia
Born in Siberia
