Touching Zoo in Tula at Center of Bitter Dispute Over Animal Care

Passions surrounding the «Touching Zoo,» located near Belousovsky Park in Tula, have not subsided for months. This story first emerged in May 2025 when a former employee of the establishment, Tina Belomyltseva, spoke out about the conditions there.

Even then, opinions and views on the matter were polar opposites. Tina claimed that the zoo«s owner, Tatyana Utkina, did not want to care for the animals, failing to feed and look after them properly. Tina demanded the zoo simply be closed.

In turn, Tatyana Utkina rejected all accusations at the time, stating that Tina Belomyltseva was spreading rumors out of a desire to get back at her former employer: allegedly, Tina did not always correctly account for spent money and cleaned the enclosures poorly to take more scandalous photos.

Nine months later, in January 2026, passions around the «Touching Zoo» flared up with renewed vigor.

Tina Belomyltseva contacted the editorial office of 71.RU again, having created a petition demanding the closure of the «Touching Zoo» and holding the owners accountable for animal cruelty.

A 71.RU correspondent listened to both sides of the conflict. It is worth starting here with the fact that Tatyana Utkina (the zoo owner) filed a police report against Tina Belomyltseva, accusing her of theft of funds and veterinary passports.

Nine months later, it turned out that no criminal case had been initiated, which both sides acknowledge. However, they interpret the law enforcement«s decision differently.

Tina Belomyltseva«s Version

«The Zoo Should Be Handed Over to Competent People»

«First, I want to say: I have no personal grievances against Tatyana as a person. Back then, in May 2025, I went to the media about the situation at the zoo because it was a cry from the heart.

I would like the zoo or the animals in it to be handed over to competent people who know how to feed and keep animals.

Tatyana has, for example, improper enclosures: they are without flooring, gnawed. Secondly, the feed was wrong,« says Tina.

According to the woman, the zoo«s plywood enclosures are unsuitable for keeping animals, especially since they have no flooring — at most, everything is covered with sawdust.

«When we replaced three or four enclosures in the summer, I initially told the director that before installing an enclosure and putting animals in it, you need to lay down a floor so the boards don»t rot. At least linoleum, tiles, or something like that to make the enclosure last longer. Animals go to the toilet there. These boards rot within a month.

We showed it clearly with a co-worker. That there were already holes gnawed through, a stench. I say, there will be maggots, heat, and this is an indoor space. It«s not outdoors with constant ventilation. Zero reaction,» Tina stated. — «Either Tatyana has no money, or no time, or »I«m not going to invest everything in the zoo.» That«s it.»

Tina separately drew attention to the feed. Allegedly, very often employees themselves purchased feed because the owner bought the wrong things and rarely treated the animals.

«We told her, wrote: »Tanya, they don«t eat what you order.» We sent her screenshots from the internet that chinchillas are exotic, they won«t eat just anything, they have weak digestion, they can kick the bucket. And in the summer, the animals didn»t see any plums, pears, watermelons, melons — none of the fruits they should be nourished with in summer for autumn, for winter!

How many times did we say: «Tanya, well, bring some corn, bring this.» I can honestly say, I went with my partner to the fields myself, picked corn, and brought it to the animals,« Tina emphasized.

Are Theft Accusations Revenge?

A police report was filed against Tina. The woman was accused of stealing money from the zoo, as well as the animals« veterinary passports. But no case was initiated — according to Tina, because the police confirmed the woman»s innocence. According to Tina, the accusation of stealing the veterinary passports and 60,000 rubles (approx. $667 at current rates) fell apart after the police conducted the necessary investigative actions, examined a certain cash register book, and found Tina not guilty.

Following the investigation, the police allegedly told Tina that she had the right to file a counter-report against Tatyana — for slander. So the woman herself claims. However, she is not yet sure whether to exercise this right.

But in January 2026, Tina drew up a petition demanding the closure of the «Touching Zoo» and holding the owners accountable for animal cruelty.

According to her, the reason was a multitude of negative reviews that had appeared recently. But the last straw was words about the poor condition of her favorite pig, Masha.

«I wrote the petition because I read reviews online. They wrote about my little pig, Mashka, that she was in terrible condition. That she can»t walk or stand up. That was the last straw,« Tina stated.

In addition, the woman is concerned by what she hears from new zoo employees. For example, that rabbits somehow managed to escape from the «Touching Zoo» in winter.

So far, the petition filed by Tina has been signed by over two hundred people — two weeks after its creation.

Tatyana Utkina«s Version

«She Poured Green Antiseptic on Our Entrance»

The start of the year at the «Touching Zoo» was unusual. Someone poured green antiseptic or paint on the entrance door and thresholds and left a note: «Greetings from Tina.» At least, that«s what Tatyana Utkina claims.

«It was on the night of January 5–6. The entire threshold, the door, was doused. Since it was the holidays, and whoever did this understood that people would be coming to the zoo with children. And it was all done purposefully so that people couldn»t access the entrance. But since it was night, it helped me, the paint congealed, and we cleaned it off very well,« said Tatyana, who believes Tina did it.

Tina denies the accusations on this matter. According to the woman, the last time she was at the zoo was at the end of summer when she was kicked out from there with accusations of theft.

What About the Police Report?

Tatyana also does not deny that no criminal case was opened against Tina. But not for the reason stated by the former employee.

«First, the police did not look at any cash register book at our place, that»s simply impossible. It«s always with me, in my bag. That»s the first thing. Secondly, she also broke my cameras when the cash went missing. And how did I realize the money was disappearing? From reviews on the website: people wrote, like, why is your employee hiding the card payment terminal and demanding only cash? And there was never any cash in the register.

And then, without warning, I arrived — the payment terminal was put away. No cash in the register. Then somehow I invited people here from the street myself, gave them my personal 1,000 rubles (approx. $11 at current rates) to pay for tickets with it. I go in — there«s no money in the register.

Why wasn«t a criminal case opened? I filed the report only two weeks after I discovered the shortfall, I was busy with the zoo. And when the police came to take fingerprints, they had already been smudged, and they found nothing. And only because of that they didn»t proceed with the case,« Tatyana explained.

By the way, regarding the accusation that employees often had to buy feed with their own money. According to Tatyana, that is partially true — only they were allowed to take money from the cash register and then present receipts. After all, it«s a common thing — to buy feed if it suddenly runs out.

Response to Accusations of Creating an «Animal Concentration Camp»

Some commentators online speak quite sharply and harshly about the «Touching Zoo.» Tatyana is accused of both animal cruelty and creating a «concentration camp.»

«Visitors leave satisfied, and negative comments are only written on social media. I admit honestly, such things make you lose heart a bit. I personally don»t know where there could be animal cruelty here. We now have Sergei Rudnev working, an experienced veterinarian. He told me the animals are in good condition regarding both feed and care. Moreover, he even complained that we are overfeeding them,« Tatyana shared.

According to the woman, Tina«s actions — writing the petition, negative reviews — are revenge for being fired.

«In one thing, I admit honestly: yes, at first I had little experience, and I relied heavily on Tina, and in vain,» Tatyana sighs.

What Do the Zoo and Animals Look Like Now?

We show what the animals look like now.

And this is what the zoo and enclosures look like overall. As noted almost a year ago, a drawback that can be confirmed — the enclosures are indeed small.

And this is how the animals are fed — at least, these products were in the utility room at the time of the correspondent«s visit.

During the time spent inside the zoo, at least 5–6 visitors came — mostly parents with children. They took many cups with treats for the animals, which prompted the zoo owner to remind them that overfeeding animals is still bad.

Overall, visitors expressed no complaints during their visit to the zoo — at least not out loud.