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YEREVAN, OCTOBER 30, ARMENPRESS:The Yerevan Zoo will undergo a major reconstruction next year with new specious cages to be built for felines and apes, its director Sahak Abovian, told Armenpress. A natural gas system will be laid and many new trees will be planted. He said the government has released $2 million for the reconstruction. The Yerevan Zoo was built 66 years ago and was one of the best zoos in the former Soviet Union. Despite a chain of hardships experienced in early 1990- s following the collapse of the former Soviet Union, it has recovered in the last several years and has acquired several animals. Overall it has 2,300 animals of 180 species. Around 60 percent of them are registered in the Red Book. Mr. Abovian said zoos are very important in terms of preserving and ensuing reproduction of some species which are nearing the edge of extinction in wild life. The Yerevan Zoo has one such specie-it is Przhevalsky horse. Armenian bezoar (Capra aegagrus) and moufflon are being bred by the Zoo and released. Within the frameworks of cooperation with WWF the Zoo has exchanged 10 bezoar goats for deer in neighboring Georgia. In 1994 the Yerevan Zoo joined the Eurasian Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The Association coordinates exchange of animals among zoos, information, new management experience and new animal treatment methods. The Yerevan Zoo cooperates also with several zoos in Europe. The government has earmarked 200 million Drams as a subsidy to the Yerevan zoo for next year, up from 177 million this year. Mr. Sahakian said this sum is enough to meet all demands.