A new director has been appointed to the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden.

      Asiya Gizzatullina is set to prepare the historical territory for reconstruction and reorganize the economic management of the institution.

      Photo: Denis Gordiyko

      The new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is Asiya Gizzatullina. Previously, she held the position of art director and deputy director of the MBU "Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan." The appointment followed a competition for the position of director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. Its conduct was prompted by the need to strengthen the management team of the cultural institution at the stage of preparing for the reconstruction of the historical territory of the zoo botanical garden. The first review of candidates for the position was held at the Kazan City Hall, where seven contestants presented their development projects for the zoo botanical garden. The works were evaluated by a competition commission headed by the mayor of Kazan, Ilsur Metshin, the Deputy Prime Minister of Tatarstan, Leila Fazleeva, the Minister of Construction, Architecture, and Housing and Utilities of Tatarstan, Marat Aizatullin, and the director of the "Institute for the Development of Cities of Tatarstan" fund, Nailya Nagumanova. As a result of the review of the competition participants, Asiya Gizzatullina was among the four finalists. She proposed to develop the zoo botanical garden as a multifunctional space for the leisure of city residents and emphasized the importance of improving the historical part of the zoo botanical garden and the coastal areas of Lake Kaban, suggesting creating an organic connection between them through existing and new infrastructure. "We studied the results of the competition for the director's position in 2025. The selection was thorough, and the final result is logical. Asiya Gizzatullina is an experienced specialist who genuinely loves the city. She has gone through a professional path from executor to manager in the Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan, which has provided her with the most relevant experience for the new position," said Alexander Shavliashvili, director of the Kazan Tourism Development Committee. According to him, the new leader faces large-scale tasks. First of all, she needs to establish management of a large enterprise and organize the import of animals. An important direction will be the implementation of modern technologies for maintaining flora and fauna. No less significant will be the development of educational and scientific initiatives: they will help strengthen the educational role of the zoo botanical garden. Special attention will need to be paid to the reconstruction of the historical part: first, together with architects and scientists, develop a concept, then prepare a technical assignment taking into account the best practices of similar projects, and at the implementation stage - ensure careful construction of the new area to preserve the uniqueness of the place.

      Let us remind you that the history of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden dates back to 1806 - it was founded at the Imperial Kazan University by Professor Karl Fedorovich Fuchs. In 1830, coastal plots on the shore of Lake Sredniy Kaban were acquired for the establishment of a botanical garden covering 6.7 hectares, which became the core of the modern zoo botanical garden. By the mid-19th century, the botanical garden had transformed into one of the largest in the country, with a collection of over 4,000 plants. It became not only a scientific center but also a popular place for city residents to walk.

      In 2019, after renovation, a new part of the zoo botanical garden named "Zambezi River" was opened on the territory of 6.7 hectares. It brought together animals from Africa. Currently, this part houses over 400 animals. The new section of the zoo operates around the clock, while the historical territory, due to its dilapidation, operates only from April to November. The development of the concept for updating the historical part of the garden will continue the infrastructure modernization of the facility. The zoo botanical garden is located along the Botanical Channel, connecting the already improved embankment of Lower Kaban Lake with Sredniy Kaban. Co-financing of the improvement works in collaboration with the republic will be provided by the "Agna Group" company, which plans to invest private funds in the development of the zoo botanical garden and the reconstruction of the historical part.

      Reference

      Asiya Shamilievna Gizzatullina was born on May 4, 1990, in Kazan. In 2011, she graduated from Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Institute of Physics, Bachelor's degree in "General Physics"). In 2013, she received a diploma from Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University (Institute of Physics, Master's degree in "Radiophysics"). From 2013 to 2015, she worked at the Kazan Electric Equipment Plant "KZETO." From 2015 to 2017, she worked in the U-Media Holding (Journalism, Media).

      In 2017, she joined the team of the Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan. In her first season, she oversaw the launch of the ice rink after the park on Black Lake was improved. In subsequent years, she was involved in socio-cultural programming and the construction of coastal areas of the Kazanka River, including the Children's Park "Yelmai" in 2024 and the Big Blue Lake in 2023 and 2024. The Children's Park "Yelmai" became the best children's park in Russia and premiered in 2024 at the V International Exhibition-Conference ParkSeason as part of the II All-Russian Park Award "Parks of Russia." The Blue Lakes were awarded in the "Park by the Water" nomination.

      Additionally, Asiya Gizzatullina was involved in launching the city's first "Eco Station" on the embankment of the Kazanka River in 2024, promoting the values of sustainable development and supporting the educational mission. The "Eco Station" won in the "Best Object in the Field of Sustainable Development" nomination at the Architectural and Construction Forum "Kazanysh" in 2024.

      Since 2024, she has served as the deputy director and art director of the Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan.

      More news about the event:

      Asiya Gizzatullina has been appointed director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. The new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is Asiya Gizzatullina. Before that, she worked as an art director and deputy director of the MBU "Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan," reports the press service of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. 21:02 02.04.2026 IA Tatar-inform - Kazan

      Asiya Gizzatullina has become the new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. The new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is Asiya Gizzatullina. Previously, she held the position of art director and deputy director of the MBU "Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan." 18:22 02.04.2026 GTRK Tatarstan - Kazan

      Seven candidates, one victory: Asiya Gizzatullina has become the director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. The Executive Committee of Kazan appointed a new director of the zoo botanical garden. She is Asiya Gizzatullina, who previously held the position of art director and deputy director of the MBU "Directorate of Parks and Squares of Kazan." 17:04 02.04.2026 TRK Tatarstan-New Century - Kazan

      A new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden has been appointed. The director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is 36-year-old Asiya Gizzatullina, who previously held the position of art director and deputy director of the Directorate of Parks and Squares of the city. 16:53 02.04.2026 Business Online - Kazan

      Asiya Gizzatullina has been appointed head of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. She proposed to develop the zoo botanical garden as a multifunctional space for the leisure of city residents. The Kazan Zoo houses more than 160 species of animals. 16:53 02.04.2026 Komsomolskaya Pravda Kazan - Kazan

      A new director of the zoo botanical garden has been appointed in Kazan. The new head of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is Asiya Gizzatullina, who previously held the position of art director and deputy director of the Directorate of Parks and Squares of the city. 16:46 02.04.2026 Kazan Vedomosti - Kazan

      A new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden has been appointed in Kazan. Asiya Gizzatullina is set to prepare the historical territory for reconstruction and reorganize the economic management of the institution.

      Photo: Denis Gordiyko

      The new director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden is Asiya Gizzatullina. 16:08 02.04.2026 Administration of Kazan - Kazan

      News from neighboring regions on the topic:

      Asiya Gizzatullina has become the director of the Kazan Zoo Botanical Garden. As reported by the mayor's office, Asiya Gizzatullina won the competition for the position. 16:57 02.04.2026 NTA-Volga - Nizhny Novgorod

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