The largest zoo in the south of Kazakhstan, in the northern suburbs of Shymkent. The collection runs to around 1,500 animals, with the emphasis on Central Asian wildlife — snow leopards, Asian lions, saiga antelope, ibex, vultures — alongside the usual lions, tigers and elephants.
The enclosures are mixed: some of them have been renovated to modern standards, others are still Soviet-era cages and a visit is not for everyone. Most worthwhile if you have children or want a glimpse of the wildlife of the surrounding mountains without making the trip out to Aksu-Zhabagly.