The Lithuanian Zoo is a beautiful park with sculptures, play areas for children and a wonderful collection of 2000 animals. 260 species are represented, ten of which are included in Lithuania’s Red Book of endangered species. More than 100 species at the Lithuanian Zoo are included in the International Red Book. On the 1st of July, 1938, in the beautiful Mackevicius valley, the Kaunas Zoo was officially opened. On the opening day, there were only 40 animals in the exhibition. The founder of the Zoo was Prof. Tadas Ivanauskas. The Lithuanian Zoo is famous for its successful breeding of rare and disappearing species of animals such as martens. In 1973 the second marten kit to be bred in captivity anywhere in the world was born here. In 1962 the first in the Soviet Union snow leopard was born here. The Zoo was successful in breeding Siberian and Bengal tigers, cheetahs, leopards, hippos, and other animals.The Lithuanian Zoo is a member of EAZA, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, and a participant in the European Endangered Species Programme (since 1992). The Zoo is also a member of the International Zoo Educators Association (since 1999) and the International Species Information System, ISSIS.