The most famous monuments to animals around the world. The most original animal monuments in the world Unusual animal monuments in the world

In childhood, each of us buried his hamster or canary on the lawn near the house, and maybe even put a cross made of ice cream sticks on the grave. But compared to what some people do in memory of their favorite fauna, this is a very modest gesture. Today we have prepared a list of 10 animal monuments that immortalized the image of cute animals for a long time.

Monument to laboratory mice

Often, science has moved forward through the efforts of invisible participants in experiments. And people should not be too proud of their merits, we are talking about rodents who sacrificed themselves to science and, mind you, not of their own free will.

Thanks to laboratory mice, mankind has been able to move far ahead in different areas science. In one of the research centers of the Russian Federation, it was decided that the role of the laboratory mouse in history should be immortalized with a memorial.

The small statue is made of bronze and is located at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics in Novosibirsk. The mouse looks pretty funny and knits a DNA double helix, because it was thanks to these rodents that many of the secrets of DNA were revealed. The sculptor says that the monument combines the image of a laboratory mouse and a researcher, because they are inextricably linked and serve one common goal.

cheese mite

They are closely related to mites that live in human tissues, eating foods rich in proteins and fats, whether it be cheese or dead human skin cells. As a result of the vital activity of these animals, holes are formed in the cheese, in which bacteria and fungal spores can multiply, so cheese mites are not very favored.

True, in some cheese productions they are specially planted in the head of cheese in order to speed up the ripening process.

After 12 months from the moment the mites settled in the cheese, it is ready for human consumption. It was the lovers of this cheese who erected a monument to the cheese mite.

Camel Corps High Jolly

In the state of Arizona, USA, there is a monument known as High Jolly and the camels that made him famous. Hai Jolly (real name Haji Ali) was recruited into the US Army to introduce camels into the army ranks. The Americans thought that they would be ideal for the role of beasts of burden in the deserts of the southern United States. In 1856-1857, 77 camels were brought to the United States to put the plan into action.

The experiment failed. The horses and mules that carried supplies for the army were greatly frightened by the camels. Although the latter did an excellent job of crossing the desert and demonstrated the ability to feed on bushes.

In full swing civil war the camel corps was disbanded. Most of the animals were simply released into the wild. The only thing that today reminds of this experiment is a pyramid with a camel on top in the place where the last camp with hunchbacked colleagues was set up.

donkey sacrificed

In 2017, the shareholders of one of the Chinese zoos decided that their business was not profitable enough. They came to the zoo with the intention of capturing some animals and selling them to those who wish.

For inexplicable reasons, the choice fell on a donkey and a goat, however, on the way to the exit, the guards tried to stop them. During the skirmish, the donkey was pushed into a cage with the tigers, who tore the poor man apart. Shareholders noted that at least they saved money on tiger food.

The goat was more fortunate - visitors to the park saved him from a similar fate. About a month later, a monument to the donkey was erected at the zoo, the inscription on which tells about his life. “I was born on a farm. I just wanted to continue my lineage and enjoy life. This monument calls everyone to justice. My death was useless, remember that."

Memorial to the massacre of monkeys

In the American city of Jones Creek, Georgia, there is a monument dedicated to dark spot in the history of the city. Local legend says that at the beginning of the 20th century, a train carrying circus animals crashed here. A group of monkeys managed to escape and hide in the forest. Local farmers opened fire on unknown animals, this event was called the massacre of monkeys.

No one can say for sure whether it really was, but monkeys are still found in these places. In the 90s of the XX century, a local artist presented the city with a flock of stone monkeys as a token of memory of that bloody event. Local authorities speculate that this memorial may be a reminder that the murder is not the only way communication with an unknown species of animal.

elephant bridge

In New York, there is a bronze statue that has turned green with age, depicting running elephants. In 1929, the crowd gathered here to watch the circus elephants that were supposed to pass over the bridge, among them was the famous Jumbo.

The elephants panicked and ran straight into the crowd of people, many died. By at least so the legend goes. In fact, everything was different.

The sculptor simply dedicated his work to a fictitious event.

A year earlier, another animalistic monument was erected, dedicated to the attack of a giant octopus on a boat near Staten Island. The goal of the sculptor was to establish how gullible people are. In fact, it's hard not to believe the legend when the bronze statue confirms it.

beetle weevil

The American city of Enterprise in Alabama is called the "city of progress", because it has always successfully overcome crisis situations, the most difficult of which was the invasion of the American weevil.

This beetle eats buds and flowers on cotton plantations. At the turn of the 20th century, the cotton industry in the southern states was devastated by the invasion of weevils. Nevertheless, in this city there is a monument to this pest. Why?

After the loss of the cotton crop, local farmers sowed fields with peanuts. The city of Enterprise soon became the leading supplier of the peanut. That is why a monument to the beetle was erected here, which helped the locals to find a more profitable business.

Many animals have been sent into space to conduct experiments, but the husky was the first to be sent into Earth's orbit. Surprisingly, it was an ordinary mongrel who was caught on the street in Moscow.

But, unfortunately, the life of this dog was short, and she did not have time to bathe in the rays of glory. After about 5 hours, which she spent in the Sputnik 2 aircraft, the dog died from overheating.

Only in 2008, 51 years after the event itself, a monument was erected in honor of the fluffy astronaut.

And although it was the first monument in her honor, in Soviet times stamps, chocolates and cigarettes with her image were produced.

holy cod

Cod fishing has been a key industry in the economy of the people of Massachusetts, USA. As a sign of respect for this fish, a one and a half meter wooden fish, known as the "Holy Cod", hangs in the building of the local House of Representatives.

It has been hanging in this place for 200 years and looks directly into the face of the speaker, each time reminding him of the importance of his role in history.

In 1933, the staff of the humorous magazine The Harvard Lampoon stole the holy fish. They went into the building, cut off the fasteners and took the fish with them.

The police were immediately called in to search for the cod. In her absence, members of the House of Representatives even debated punishment for the kidnappers. Fifty hours later, an anonymous person brought the fish to the police, and it returned to the place where it hangs to this day.

The symbol of the US state of Utah is the seagull. This may seem strange, because the seagull is inferior in beauty to many birds. The fact is that it was the seagull that played a decisive role in the formation of Utah. The first inhabitants who arrived on its territory were in danger, as grasshoppers ate their vital crop. Gulls saved the inhabitants from the invasion of grasshoppers; in honor of this event, a bronze column with two gulls on top was erected here.

For many, the role of animals in life comes down to pets, which add mass to a person's life. positive emotions. Often we do not even think about the contribution of ticks or mice to our lives, although it is no doubt significant.

In Switzerland there is a monument to a rescue dog. The brave St. Bernard saved 186 people from avalanches. We present the most unusual monuments to animals in the world.

10th place: In Australia there is a monument to the moth butterfly. So local farmers thanked her for the destruction of prickly pear cacti, which flooded the entire continent and almost killed all livestock (cows ate cacti and poisoned themselves).

9th place: In Alaska, there is the world's only monument to whales, which to this day feed the native inhabitants of Alaska - the Eskimos.

8th place: The author of another monument to Alaska believes that the animal, which he embodied in metal, tempers the spirit of people living in Alaska. It's about about the mosquito monument. Mosquito clouds appear in Alaska in the summer, and it is very difficult to fight them.

7th place: Monument to swallows. It was installed by the residents of the city of Gringsville in gratitude - that's funny! - for the destruction of mosquitoes (one swallow eats up to 1000 mosquitoes a day). By the way, the monument is very useful for swallows: it is a 20-meter tower hung with bird houses.

6th place: In America, there is a monument to the pest - the cotton weevil. One day, weevils destroyed the entire cotton crop and forced farmers to turn to growing other crops, which ultimately brought them prosperity.

5th place: Monument Trojan horse. The figure of the horse now stands at the place where, as scientists suggest, there was ancient Troy. According to legend, the artist Epeius and his student created the famous horse with the help of the goddess Pallas Athena.

4th place: As for the animals that were beneficial, then, in addition to the monument to the Swiss St. Bernard and Pavlov's dog, there is also a monument to the toad. It stands in front of the Pasteur Institute as a tribute to laboratory animals.

3rd place: Monument rabid dog. In fact, in addition to the dog, the composition also includes a statue depicting the boy Josef. It was this boy who received the world's first rabies vaccine. The vaccine was given by chemistry professor Louis Pasteur, and it is to him that we owe the word pasteurization.

2nd place: Two brand new monuments, they are located in the city of Honfleur in France. One of them is a figure of a dog with a fish tail and is called "Monument of Love" (a very original look, of course), and the second is a plate with circles radiating from the center. This is the "Monument to Loneliness". Both monuments were sculpted by a Ukrainian sculptor to commemorate the filming of Yury Grymov's film Mu-Mu.

1 place: Perhaps the most unexpected monument to an animal. On the banks of the Mississippi stands the world's only monument to a dead cat. However, the cat on the pedestal is not alone: ​​Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are standing next to it.

Why are monuments erected to animals?

"He can be stroked" - such a signature will be under the monument

Why are monuments erected to animals? In the underground passage at the entrance to the Mendeleevskaya metro station - at the place where the dog was killed, who lived there for several years and was patronized by metro workers, it is planned to install the composition "Sympathy". The monument is dedicated to the humane treatment of homeless animals and was made on voluntary donations. The authors of the project, sculptor Alexander Tsigal, animal artist Sergei Tsigal and architect Andrey Nalich, describe it as follows: “This monument is not to a hero, not to a famous writer, not to an athlete, but to an ordinary mongrel, a stray dog ​​that was killed by a woman just like that, with a knife. This monument is a protest against the soulless attitude towards the world around us, which is so fragile and defenseless." Mankind has always had a changeable attitude to the world of wildlife.

In 1474, in the Swiss city of Basel, a curious trial: the rooster that laid the egg was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake along with the egg. During the Middle Ages, cases of condemnation of animals were not isolated. Rats, pigs, wild boars and even dogs fell under the sword of justice. Even today, dogs die at the hands of a person, and not only an insane person. And yet, humanity treated animals more often with gratitude and love.

The greatest love, deserved, of course, dogs. Yes, and, of course, a dog has long helped a person. One of the monuments was erected at the insistence of the great Soviet physiologist Academician I.P. Pavlov in 1935 and named "Monument to an unknown dog". Pavlov's words are written on the pedestal: "The dog, thanks to its long-standing disposition towards humans, its ingenuity, patience and obedience, even serves the experimenter with noticeable joy for many years, and sometimes all his life."

Another monument was erected in Paris and has a specific addressee - it was erected to a St. Bernard named Barry, who, as the inscription says, "saved forty people from death. During the rescue of the forty-first, he died." St. Bernards are large and strong dogs- have long been performing the role of mine rescuers. They say that St. Bernard Barry dug up his forty-first rescued in an inaccessible gorge. But he, frightened, shot his savior with a pistol shot. Sometimes it happens.

Humanity does not forget the merits of its four-legged and feathered friends. In the courtyard of St. Petersburg state university there is a monument to the cat, "who gave the world a great many paramount discoveries in physiology." Monuments to the "Last Wolf Killed" have been erected in England and Germany. These are probably symbols of late repentance for the unjustified destruction of the intelligent predator, without which nature has become poorer by one, and perhaps several species of wild fauna. On the island of Rhodes in Greece there is a monument to deer. They are so honored because at one time they exterminated all poisonous snakes on the island. On Earth there are monuments to a frog whose legs were long years electrical measuring instruments of physicists. One of the monuments to the frog was built at the University of Paris, at the Sorbonne, in the nineteenth century. The second one was erected in Tokyo by medical students.

Many animals are honored with human gratitude. But the monument to a sparrow, which everyone and everywhere considers a petty thief, is amazing. However, such a monument exists. It stands in the American city of Boston. It turns out that this feathered hard worker literally saved Bostonians from starvation when caterpillars of a hitherto unknown insect appeared on the local fields. There were so many of them that it seemed that the earth was moving. It was here that the sparrows showed themselves in all their glory. They dealt with the pests in no time and thus saved the orchards and crops of grain. It is for this that grateful Bostonians erected a monument to the sparrow. By the way, until 1860 there was not a single sparrow in America; they were brought from England specifically to fight caterpillars. And modest birds coped with this mission with honor, and they remained to live in a new place, helping people.

And already today a monument has been opened in Great Britain, the inscription on which reads: "Dedicated to all animals that served and died in the ranks of the British and allied forces. They had no other choice." The monument depicts a horse, a dog and two mules loaded with various ammunition. Figures of elephants, camels, monkeys and bears are carved on the fence of the monument. The bas-relief depicts not only animals, but also insects - fireflies. They are honored for their invaluable assistance to the British military during the First World War. During positional battles, the British in the trenches read maps by the light of these insects.

The cost of the memorial exceeded $2 million. Its creator, the most "fashionable" sculptor in the UK, David Backhouse, said in an interview with BBC News that he could not remain indifferent to stories about carrier pigeons, 15,000 of which died during the wars of the last century, horses, only in the First World War, which killed 8 million and dogs that rescued the wounded under enemy fire. "I don't know if you would call these animals heroes, but they did a very important job," the sculptor said. Veteran took part in the opening ceremony Iraq war Spaniel Buster. Buster was awarded a medal for uncovering a guerrilla cell in the Iraqi city of Safwan. The dog discovered the hideout of the partisans and caches with weapons.

They are not only cute domestic fluffies, but also warriors, astronauts, rescuers and real helpers. The stories of their loyalty and meekness make you look at the world with different eyes. On Animal Protection Day, which is celebrated on October 4, the online edition of the site tells about the most touching monuments to our brothers, who turned out to be no less fortitude.

Animals at War Memorial, London, UK

The British are known to be famous for their love of animals. In 2004, an unusual memorial was unveiled at the corner of Hyde Park in London. It is dedicated to all animals that served in the British and Allied forces and died in military conflicts. Carrier pigeons, dog, camels, horses, elephant, mule, ox, cow and cat - all these animals are depicted on the monument.

The memorial was erected on donations from private individuals, who received a specially created fund. In total, they managed to raise 1.4 million pounds (147.9 million rubles). The inspiration for the creators of the monument was the book Animals at War by Jilly Cooper, published in 1983.

One of the inscriptions on the monument reads: "They had no choice." On the wall you can also see a bas-relief depicting the Maria Deakin medal - the highest British military award for animals. This commemorative badge was first awarded in 1942, and since then more than 60 animals have been awarded it, including dogs, pigeons, horses and one cat.

Monument "Sympathy", metro station "Mendeleevskaya", Moscow

In 2001, a tragedy occurred in the underground passage at the Mendeleevskaya metro station - the homeless dog Boy died. He was stabbed to death by the owner of a Staffordshire terrier, with whom the Boy who lived in the passage had a fight.

The story was overgrown with versions and conjectures, however, animal rights activists and activists from the artistic environment managed to initiate a criminal case on the fact of cruelty to animals.

Later, animal rights activists, among whom there were many cultural figures, began raising funds to create a monument to the Boy. In 2007, in the same passage, with the consent of the management of the Moscow subway, a bronze monument was erected. The inscription on it reads: "Sympathy. Dedicated to the humane treatment of homeless animals."

By the way, the well-known musician Peter Nalich, who worked in architecture before his musical career, had a hand in the creation of the monument.

Monument to White Bim Black Ear, Voronezh

A monument to the hero of the story, Gavriil Troepolsky, was erected on the square in front of the Voronezh puppet theater "Jester". The monument is made of stainless steel, right ear and one of the paws is cast in bronze. There is no pedestal at the monument - the dog, patiently waiting for the return of his master, sits right on the ground. His name is engraved on the collar.

It is noteworthy that the author of the famous story advised the sculptors and gave advice on the creation of the monument, but did not live to see it installed. In August 2009, the Black Ear monument to White Bim took third place in the competition for the title of the main unofficial symbol of Voronezh.

Balto Monument, New York, USA

Balto - real hero America. This legendary dog ​​of the Siberian Husky breed in 1925, during a snow storm, transported medicines to one of the remote settlements in Alaska, where an epidemic of diphtheria broke out.

Balto was one of 150 dogs that competed in the "Great Mercy Race". Although the dog repeatedly showed courage, was well oriented and did not get lost in difficult situations, his owner was unhappy that all the glory went to Balto.

In any case, thanks to the anti-diphtheria serum delivered by the dogs, the epidemic in the village was stopped in 5 days. After that, Balto became a symbol of selflessness and courage. His fate after the heroic deed was not easy: the dog was resold to the owner of the theater, who kept his pets in terrible conditions.

Unusual monuments to animals

Among the unusual monuments to animals, it is worth noting the monument dedicated to the moth, which saved Australia from the overgrown South American cactus. For 15 years, night butterflies specially brought to the continent have returned 30 million hectares of farmland to circulation.

Residents of Boston (USA) also distinguished themselves by dedicating a separate monument to sparrows for saving gardens from the invasion of caterpillars.

The coast of the Greek island of Rhodes is decorated with statues of two deer. There is a legend that these animals once saved the inhabitants from poisonous snakes that flooded the island by trampling them.

Cleveland businessman George Campbell, with the help of animal rights activists, managed to raise funds for the ransom of Balto and other dogs, after which they settled in the Cleveland Zoo. Popularity again returned to Balto, he became a living symbol of the city. After the dog's death, his stuffed animal was exhibited at the Cleveland Museum.

The feat of Balto and his relatives is reminiscent of a statue in New York's Central Park. It depicts a dog looking into the distance, on the body of which a harness is put on. The statue is engraved with the words: "Endurance, Devotion, Intelligence".

Monument to Hachiko, Tokyo, Japan

Thanks to the film with Richard Gere, everyone knows about Hachiko. This dog of the Akita Inu breed has long become a symbol of loyalty and devotion in Japan: until his death, he came to the station every day, where he used to meet and see off his owner, a professor at the University of Tokyo, who died of a heart attack.

A monument to Hachiko was erected in Tokyo during the life of the dog, in 1934. During the Second World War there was a shortage of metal, so the monument had to be destroyed. A few years after the end of the war, the memorial was restored. Nowadays, many lovers date at the statue of Hachiko at Shibuya Station. This place has become truly iconic.

A stuffed Hachiko can be seen at the National Museum of Science in Tokyo, and he is also given a place of honor in the Japanese Virtual Pet Cemetery.

World Animal Day celebrated around the world for over 80 years. The holiday was approved in Italy at the international congress of supporters of the movement in defense of nature. The date of its holding was not chosen by chance. October 4 is the day of memory of St. Francis of Assisi, who is considered the patron saint of animals by Catholics.

Monument to Barry, Paris, France

The famous dog of the breed that later became known as the St. Bernard worked as a lifeguard at the monastery of St. Bernard in Switzerland in the early 19th century, located near a dangerous mountain pass, where snow storms often occurred. According to legend, Barry saved 40 people and was killed by the 41st who mistook him for a wolf.

A monument to Barry was erected in 1899 opposite the entrance to the cemetery of dogs near Paris. The sculpture represents a dog with a child on its back, holding the collar with his hands. At the bottom is the inscription: "Barry of Greater St. Bernard. He saved the lives of forty people. The forty-first killed him."

Monument to Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh, UK

This Skye Terrier for fourteen years - until his own death in 1872 - guarded the grave of his deceased owner, a night inspector of the Edinburgh police.

The monument to Greyfriars Bobby was erected during the life of the dog, although he never lived to see the opening. A life-size statue stands in front of the Greyfriars Bobby bar.

The first monument to a dog

It is believed that the first monument to a dog was erected in the 4th century BC in the ancient Greek city of Corinth. According to legend, a dog named Soetr woke up the garrison of the city when the enemy crept up to him. The enemy was driven back, and Soetre was awarded a monument and a silver collar with the inscription "To the Defender and Savior of Corinth."

Later, a red granite stone appeared on Bobby's grave, located in front of the gates of the cemetery where his owner rests, with the inscription "Let his loyalty and devotion be a lesson to all of us." The initiator of the installation of the stone was the Dog Society of Scotland.

Monument of devotion, Tolyatti

Tolyatti has its own, no less touching story of dog devotion. In the mid-90s, residents of the city noticed a dog on the side of the road german shepherd who ran up to passing cars.

Later it turned out that a car accident occurred at this place, in which the owners of the dog died. The dog was in the car at the time of the accident and miraculously survived. The people called the dog "Faithful" or "Kostik", he became a living legend of the city. Faithful died in 2002 - he was found dead in the forest. Before last day the dog was waiting for its owners at the place where it had lost them.

Monument to a front-line dog, Poklonnaya Gora, Moscow

There is nothing surprising in the fact that veterans of the Great Patriotic War proposed to erect a monument to a front-line dog on Poklonnaya Hill. More than 60 thousand dogs fought on the side of the Soviet Union different breeds. They pulled out the wounded from under fire, delivered ammunition and combat reports, discovered and neutralized enemy explosive devices.

According to minimal estimates, front-line dogs pulled out more than 700 thousand wounded soldiers from under the bullets. In the summer of 1945, the heroic quadrupeds took part in the Victory Parade on Red Square.

Another monument to dogs that served during the Great Patriotic War is installed in a Moscow park "Terletskaya oak forest", where the central military-technical school was located service dog breeding Red Army. The monument is called "Military instructor with a dog." And in Volgograd a few years ago it was opened the only one in Russia monument to the demolition dogs that defended Stalingrad during the war.

Towser Cat Monument, Crieff, UK

Another memorial in Scotland commemorates the Towser cat, who became famous for the record number of mice caught - almost 29,000 in her 24 years of life. Her "labor feat" did not go unnoticed and was included in the Guinness Book of Records.

The cat lived at the oldest Glenturret distillery, which produces the most popular whiskey in Scotland - The Famous Grouse ("famous partridge"). Since whiskey is made from selected grains, there were always many mice at the enterprise, with which Towser the cat fought successfully.

The monument flaunts right in front of the distillery, whose workers are sure that the cat owes its dexterity and longevity to the daily portion of milk with the addition of a drop of whiskey, as well as to the alcoholic vapors that she had to inhale every day.

For contributions to science

In many cities around the world, monuments have been erected to experimental animals that have contributed to science. So, for example, in the courtyard of St. Petersburg University there is a monument experimental cat, and near the building of the Pasteur Institute in Paris - a monument to a frog.

Employees Novosibirsk Institute Cytology and genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences immortalized the merits of experimental rodents by installing a sculpture of a mouse "knitting" a DNA helix with knitting needles. The inhabitants of Sukhumi, in turn, paid tribute to the monkeys who participated in experiments in the study of human diseases.

Back in the mid-30s, a monument appeared on Aptekarsky Island in St. experimental dog. The idea of ​​the monument belongs to Academician Pavlov - the one who became famous for his experiments on quadrupeds.

Monument to the cat Elisha and the cat Vasilisa, St. Petersburg

On Malaya Sadovaya Street in St. Petersburg, two miniatures are installed in memory of the besieged cats, which were brought from Yaroslavl region to save the city from rats. The cat Vasilisa is located on the eaves of the second floor of house No. 3, and the cat Elisha is opposite her, on the corner of house No. 8.

During the blockade, not a single cat remained in Leningrad, which led to an invasion of rats that destroyed the last food supplies. To combat pests, cats were brought from Yaroslavl, which successfully coped with the task.

Both monuments disappeared from their places. With the cat Elisha, this happened in 2008, and with the cat Vasilisa - in 2014. Fortunately, in both cases, the sculptures were found and returned.

Monument to dog-cosmonaut Laika, Moscow

Laika was the first dog Soviet Union. She was originally given a one-way ticket because Laika flew on a satellite, and satellites don't have a return system to Earth.

It was expected that Laika would be alive for at least a day, but already on the fourth orbit around the Earth, she died due to overheating. Half a century after the flight, a monument to the heroic dog was erected on the territory of the State Research Institute of Military Medicine of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

The two-meter monument is a space rocket, turning into a human palm, on which Laika stands. By the way, another monument to the dog-cosmonaut was opened in Izhevsk. It depicts Zvezdochka, the last animal to travel into space before Gagarin's flight.

Monument to guide dogs, Berlin, Germany

"To German guide dogs from blind Berliners" - such an inscription can be read on a monument installed in the Berlin Zoo. The first schools for training guide dogs were established in Germany during the First World War. They were founded to increase the mobility of veterans who became blind as a result of military operations.

Monument to the cat Semyon, Murmansk

If Lomonosov's trip to Moscow on foot took three weeks, Semyon the cat managed to return home to Murmansk from the capital only six years later. Legend has it that the cat got lost in Moscow in the late 80s and somehow found its way back.

The animal overcame two thousand kilometers and became a symbol of devotion and perseverance. The monument to the cat Semyon is located at the entrance to the amusement park near Semyonovskoye Lake.

People are very fond of erecting monuments: famous writers, scientists, composers, generals, monarchs, pilots and people of other, no less remarkable, professions. For example, there is a monument to a policeman, a plumber and a photographer.

But the fantasy of people goes much further, because to perpetuate real historical characters so boring! Therefore, in the vastness of our vast country, you can see the monuments of the most different things. So, for example, in Izhevsk a monument to dumplings was erected, and in Moscow a monument to Druzhba cheese. In Ulyanovsk there is a monument to the letter “Yo”, in the Zhulebino area, which is beyond the Moscow Ring Road, a monument was erected to the “masterpiece” of the domestic automobile industry, the car “penny”, and in the village of Loza near Moscow, a two-meter bearing flaunts.

But more than inanimate objects, like bricks, people like to immortalize animals. At the same time, it is not at all necessary that any feat or useful deed be carried out for the animal. Sometimes it's enough just to be the hero of a popularly beloved cartoon.

In the city of Tomsk there is a monument to the wolf, a character from the famous cartoon "Once upon a time there was a dog", in addition, it is a symbol of happiness. The unusualness of this monument is also in the fact that when he is stroked on the stomach, he says famous phrase"I'll sing right now."

Another, no less famous cartoon character who has been immortalized in metal is the kitten Vasily from Lizyukov Street. Now in Voronezh, on Lizyukov Street, a kitten is sitting on an iron tree with a crow, and there is a sign: if you touch the left paw famous cat then every wish will come true.

The most popular animal for the monument is, of course, the dog. In Russia, the most famous monument to a dog is located on the territory of the park of the Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Russian Academy medical sciences, the so-called monument to "Pavlov's dog". There are monuments to dogs that did not distinguish themselves in any way - for example, a funny sculptural composition in Vologda. In fact, the monument was erected in honor of the centenary of the installation of the first electric lamps on the streets of this city, but such a detail as a mongrel peeing on a pole attracts much more attention from passers-by. A dog caught doing the same thing can also be seen in Brussels.

In many cities of the world there are monuments to dogs, and almost all of them are erected for the special merits of these animals to humans, as a symbol of dog devotion. There are monuments to dogs who saved their owners at the cost of their lives in Belarus, in the park of the Nesviezh Castle, in Russia in the Kirov region in the village of Bobino, in Poland in the village of Pyevo. In France, in Paris, there is a monument to St. Bernard Barry, who saved the lives of people caught in an avalanche. The inscription on the pedestal reads: "Barry, who saved forty people and killed forty first."

There are monuments of dog fidelity - in Japan there is a monument to the dog Hachiko, who for nine years daily came to the station and waited for the arrival of his deceased owner. The whole country collected money for this monument. In Edinburgh, Scotland, at the entrance to the cemetery of Greyfriars, there is a monument to Bobby the Skye Terrier - he was on duty at his grave for fourteen years after the death of the owner. There is a similar monument in Tolyatti - for many years the dog lived at the scene of an accident in which his owner died, looking for him in passing cars.

Monuments to dogs and even cats are understandable - these animals have been accompanying humans for a very long time and have made a huge contribution to the development of science. But there are monuments to animals, at first glance, completely unfounded and incomprehensible.

In New Zealand, in the city of Triittown, there is a monument to trout. People have immortalized fish, thanks to which they live in abundance - local residents breed trout in specialized farms, and, as you know, trout is considered a delicacy, and there is a demand for it all over the world.

In the US, in the state of Alabama, a monument to the weevil pest was erected. The fact is that at the beginning of the twentieth century, this insect almost destroyed all cotton in this state, forcing farmers to grow other crops, which turned out to be much more profitable. Later, wealthy farmers erected a monument to the weevil as a token of gratitude.

Honored with a monument and an ordinary sparrow. In Boston, USA, a monument to this bird was erected in gratitude for saving orchards and crops from the invasion of caterpillars. There is also a sparrow monument in Belarus in the city of Baranovichi and in St. Petersburg - the famous hero of the song Chizhik-Pyzhik.

In Australia, in the valley of the Darling River, there is a marble monument to the caterpillar of the cactus moth butterfly. At one time, this caterpillar saved local farmers from a cactus imported from Argentina. This cactus spread with incredible speed and where it appeared, nothing else grew. None of the measures helped South America they did not bring a cactus pest - coctoblastis, which destroyed weed cacti in ten years.

Monuments have been erected to many animals in gratitude, for example, to a ram in Scotland and a goat in Uryupinsk for the supply of wool. In Holland, Germany and the USA there are monuments to the cow-nurse, in addition, in Germany there is a monument to the cow-“helper” in the production of vaccines. There are a lot of monuments to horses - in Poland, at the Drvalevsky Bioveterinary Institute, there is a monument to donor horses. In Odintsovo, on the territory of the stud farm, there is a monument to the champion horse named Kvadrat. In Kazakhstan and in Germany there are also monuments to horses. In Prague, at the entrance to the zoo, there is a monument to the Przewalski horse, as a reminder of the respect for animals.

Besides, in different countries you can find monuments to other animals: a monument to a seagull in the USA, a monument to an elephant in Kenya, monuments to a pig in Denmark and Thailand. In Japan there is a monument to a bee and a toad, in Iceland - a monument to a pony, in Bulgaria and France - to a rooster, in Greece - a monument to a deer, in France - to a frog, as a frequently used laboratory animal, in Canada there is a monument to a swan and a Canadian goose. In England there is a monument to pigeons, in Italy - to the geese that saved Rome. In Russia there is a monument to a sire, a hare, a mammoth, a bear and an elk, in New Zealand - to a dolphin. There is a monument to the wolf in the UK. It was placed on the site where the last wolf in the country was killed in 1880. On the banks of the Mississippi stands, perhaps, the most unusual monument to an animal - the only monument in the world to a dead cat, however, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are present on the pedestal along with it.

Monuments were erected to outstanding animals that amazed people in one way or another.

Cat, La Rambla, Barcelona, ​​Spain

In size, this cat looks like a hippopotamus and is very similar to the hero of Mikhail Bulgakov's immortal work The Master and Margarita. In general, there are several versions of the origin of this monument. One of them says that this cat is a synthesis of all those cats that helped the port city get rid of the invasion of rats, and, accordingly, from many dangerous diseases, including the plague.

Monument to Hachiko, Tokyo, Japan

Monument Greyfriars Bobby, Edinburgh, UK

Monument to Animals Killed in War, London, UK

Boar Monument, Florence, Italy

Balto Monument, Central Park, New York, USA

Sympathy monument, Mendeleevskaya station, Moscow, Russia

Camel Monument, Chelyabinsk, Russia

Kon Yaryzh, Voronezh, Russia

Monument to dogs in love, Krasnodar, Russia

Mustang Fountain in Irving, Texas, USA

Monument to retrievers, embankment, Kyiv, Ukraine

Make Way for the Ducklings, Boston, USA

Monument to the pig, Romny, Sumy region, Ukraine