Situated on about 40 hectares (99 acres), the zoo is cared for by 378 staff members and receives about 280,000 visitors annually.

The Kyiv Zoo was founded in 1909 by the Nature Lovers Society, and was financed by various private donors and philanthropic efforts.

During the early 20th century, after experiencing some initial setbacks and difficulties, the zoo limited its total number of animals to no more than 15–20 species at one time.

As the Kyiv Zoo began to prosper, its number of animals being looked after increased, further limiting the available space.

A series of controversial deaths also unfolded in 2010, when a 39-year-old elephant died at Kyiv Zoo on 26 April, followed by a camel on 26 May, and a bison on 31 May.

Trantin, with the advice of a zoo director in Haifa, Israel, stocked up on food supplies and materials to build additional enclosures or to repair existing ones.