The zoo was established in 1939 following the success of the Estonian team at the World Shooting Championships, where a lynx kitten was presented as a mascot.
It hosts the world's largest collection of caprids, comprising diverse species of mountain goats and sheep.
The zoo maintains a critical breeding program for the Amur leopard, the rarest big cat on Earth.
The grounds include an extensive collection of rare birds of prey, specifically eagles and vultures.
The landscape utilizes the natural forest environment of the Veskimetsa area, requiring significant walking distance to traverse.
The zoo operates an active conservation center focused on the restoration of the European mink population in the wild.
Tallinn Zoo, situated within the forested Veskimetsa park, houses one of the most comprehensive collections of mountain goats and sheep globally. The facility spans 87 hectares, making it the largest zoo in Estonia and the only one in the country. It is internationally recognized for its successful breeding programs for endangered species, including the Amur leopard and the European mink. The zoo features a specialized Tropical House and an Alpine House designed to replicate extreme environmental conditions for its inhabitants. Visitors navigate a mix of outdoor woodland enclosures and modern indoor pavilions. The site serves as a significant hub for environmental education and conservation research in the Baltic region.
The viewing platform at the Alpine House, which offers elevated perspectives of the mountain animal habitats.
Wear comfortable, broken-in walking shoes as the site covers a large geographic area with mixed terrain.
Check the daily feeding schedule upon arrival to observe active behavior from the predators.
Bring binoculars for better views of the more distant animal enclosures in the woodland sections.
Attempting to cover the entire zoo in under three hours, which leads to rushing through the expansive outdoor woodland exhibits.
Open daily year-round, though some outdoor animal enclosures may have restricted visibility during extreme winter weather.
Do not feed or touch the animals, maintain a quiet demeanor near enclosures to avoid stressing wildlife, and stay strictly on marked visitor paths.
