The origin story of Safari Park Taigan is a heart-warming tale of an oligarch using his powers for the greater good instead of self-serving indulgences.
In 2006 Ukrainian businessman Oleg Zubkov managed to finally convince the authorities to let him turn the ruins of an abandoned military base into an open-air zoo and reserve for lions and tigers. Zubkov ponied up his own cash for the project, instead of buying a submarine or a sports team, like many of his oligarch peers do.
Six years later, 32 hectares of temperate prairie lands of inner Crimea’s Belogorsk province became home to more the 50 lions and tigers, plus hundreds of bird, reptile and mammal species housed in the adjacent zoo, and were ready to welcome their first visitors.
Even more remarkable than the efficiency with which a project of this scale was completed – especially by post-Soviet standards – was the fact that Zubkov personally traveled across many countries, visiting underfunded or mismanaged zoos and circuses, rescuing ill and maltreated animals and bringing them to Taigan for care and rehabilitation. Local tour guides love to tell stories of Zubkov’s special connection with his animal kingdom. They describe lion prides of the reserve accepting him as one of their own, playing and snuggling up with him like house cats.
Today Taigan is the largest reserve of its kind in Europe, and is unlikely to give up the top spot any time soon. This is due to the park’s another remarkable feature: lions and tigers kept here have been reproducing like bunny rabbits. Just days before my visit Taigan welcomed four tiger cubs. The play pen alone has more than half a dozen big cats under a year old. They frolic with one another, happily pose for photos with visitors (expect a smelly lick of the face or a bit of a nibble on your outfit!), and sometimes they get so attached to their new human mates that they grab onto pant legs or crawl into handbags and refuse to vacate them just so that they can keep playing some more.
One of the most fun aspects of Taigan is that you can pet and feed the animals appropriate snacks, which are sold throughout the park. Understandably, most creatures are very people-friendly. Giraffes take orange slices right out of your hand. Lamas photobomb you till you share your snack, whether it’s an apple or ice cream. Lemur-possum-like creatures prefer crackers, and the monkeys… just be careful about those sticky-fingered beasts. Even the giant bears have gotten the cute and cuddly routine down pat when asking for treats.
But it’s the peacocks who really rule this land. These gorgeous but obnoxious birds freely roam around the zoo, screeching and scaring visitors and animal residents alike, just for fun. One particularly mean-spirited ‘cock really enjoyed terrorizing the one year-old giraffe, Zanzibar, every time the kid would get close enough for a treat from the zoo’s guests. It took three adults and a broom to chase away the feathery assailant, just so that baby Zanzibar could eat in peace.
Taigan is a gorgeous, unforgettable experience. It is absolutely worth a full-day trip. You need at least a good five hours to enjoy it properly: two for the zoo part, two to roam all over the lion reserve on elevated walkways and watch these majestic animals play, fight and laze around in their near-natural habitat, and an hour for photos, cafés and the Ferris Wheel, which lets you take in miles and miles of the countryside. Just keep your eyes on your bags when you are visiting the lion cubs – or if you get anywhere near the monkeys.
Home & Away 
Tiggens!!! (I reckon that’s what tiger cubs should be called – maybe it’ll catch on…)
That peacock must be in cahoots with June’s cock.
http://myfoododyssey.com/2014/06/10/cock-whacking/
I wonder what the Pomeranian hell hound would make of that snuggly lion cub… it’s got a set of big claws, hasn’t it?!
They are so affectionate and docile, the Pom would make a coat out of them in no time!
What. That is so bizarre. There was something like that in Costa Rica – so bizarre!
Also, peacocks are assholes. I hate them – there were some on a farm near my house and they are such. assholes.
I had no idea till that visit. Their screeching – ugh! The baby giraffe was literally shaking!
dear Anna you re not even a Russian since you call yourself American and you support Putins crimes. here s a look at whats going to happen with Russia in the near future:
http://amurburg.ru/news/politics/krym_istselenie_ot_manii_natsionalnogo_velichiya/
I support the right of two million people deciding – by overwhelming majority – in which country and with which government they want to live.
Here you are again.Where did you see that Anna support Putin and his “crimes”?She is politically neutral.You are the face of the Ukrainian nation-you trying to clame all persons who have another opinion from yours as “Putinlicker” or enemy.Stop your f**ing propaganda here.Nobody needs your political sh**t here.People in Crimea live well and they are happy that they joined Russia.My parents returned from there two days ago.Dont try to change anybodys opinion by pushing your pro Western sh**t in this blog because after Snowden events everybody knows that the Western media are also talking sh*t.
Thank you
This was my daughters favorite post to date. She is certain Crimea cannot be that far away.
And what is this slander against my precious peacocks? To that, I say – poppycock!
OMG You showed it to the kiddies? I am dying of flattery!
I had no idea those friggin birds could practically roar – they are scary as hell!
Aw, go ‘head Oleg! That’s great.
I’d be remiss to not include a ‘cock joke in here.
See, and people think you are SO proper!
It just, it feels right. 😉
Really? You’re gonna continue the theme of ” ‘cock ” with a “feels right” comment?
OMG. This might be too much for my work-occupied mind :)))
I also feel like our internet conversations should be censored. I’m ready for you to come back…why can’t we just live in New York together?!
Or, you know…Paris? 🙂
OHMIGOSH. I’d totally make up for any crummy time that you’ve ever had there!
By now I have total confidence in that. I might never leave?
Hm, is it time I start floating rumors of RT French? 🙂
Master plan! Let’s start planting the seed on both ends now. We’re doing this.
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My two thoughts: “We named the monkey Jack,” and “That ostrich would make a FANTASTIC dress!”
It’s super cool they let you hold baby lions. I might be too afraid to do it myself.
They are totally docile. The worst part is that they spit up on you. Undigested meat.
Just like a real human baby.
But cuter and softer.
And you can give it back!
You HAVE to give it back. Sadly.
At least it’s a lion and not a panda. I could give back a lion.
There were no pandas…
It’s a travesty. If Crimea makes typically non-sexual predators breed, they should send pandas there and save the species.
Actually that’s brilliant…
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