The construction of a new zoological park in Vitebsk will be completed next year

July 30, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The construction of a new zoological park in Vitebsk will cost Br126 billion. This was announced today at a working meeting in the regional executive committee on the development of Vitebsk by the Chairman of the Vitebsk City Executive Committee Viktor Nikolaikin, BELTA correspondent reports. A forest park area of 87 hectares has been allocated for the new zoo. It is planned to build open-air enclosures and heated pavilions for keeping animals, birds, reptiles, as well as a small oceanarium. The zoo will have autonomous water supply and heating systems. In addition, retail outlets will be located here. Work on the construction of some premises has already begun. The entrance arch has been built, and the construction of the veterinary clinic is in the final stage. In total, Br8 billion has been utilized, Viktor Nikolaikin reported. The Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Kosinets demanded to accelerate the pace of construction and commission the zoo by July 2013. According to the governor, sponsors should be more actively involved in financing the work. "The zoo is being built, first of all, for children, and we should not spare money for them," he added. The Vitebsk Zoological Park was founded on March 30, 1992, on the basis of the animal theater that existed in the city. Currently, over 70 species of animals - more than 1,000 individuals - are kept here on an area of 1.3 hectares. A significant part of the animals was either donated to the zoo or purchased with sponsorship funds and donations from citizens. In 2010, the city authorities began implementing a project to build new enclosures and buildings for the zoo in the forest park area.