The members of the All-Russia Emperor Society believed that the primary goals and purposes of the Zoological garden were the following:

- Collecting alive specimens of higher vertebrates ( firstly – the animals of Russian fauna) for scientific observations;
- Establishing the collection of typical animals that could serve educational purposes, i.e. distribution of zoological knowledge among the wide public communities;
- Carrying out scientific experiments and observations of important animals, especially of the domestic animals of Russian breeds.

Rhinoceros which was presented to the Moscow zoo by Grand Duke Konstantin

The Zoological garden was financed by the entrance fees and sponsored by private donations, including contributions by the Emperor's family. In the first years people were glad to visit the Zoological garden, th e annual number of visitors coming up to ten thousands. People could see a significant collection of animals that numbered in 1864-1865 134 specimens of domestic animals and 160 specimens of the wild animals.

However, the incomes did not cover the expenses of the Zoological garden, which was facing serious problems with lack of money needed for acquiring and management of animals, repair of old building and construction of new facilities, cages and enclosures. Since the City Government refused to give support to the Zoological garden, the Society had to grant a lease to a private company – the Ryabinins' family. For the three years of running the Zoological garden the Ryabinins' family had brought it to ruin, having transformed it into merely an entertainment establishment. In 1878 the Zoological garden was returned at the disposal of the Society for Acclimatization of Plants and Animals, and fund raising activity started again. The Society managed to revive the activity of the Zoological garden for a while, and even to buy a number of animals, but in 1905 it found itself in the very centre of the major revolution battles. It was badly damaged: the buildings were ruined, the library was set on fire, many animals perished. Again, the Society was forced to turn the Zoological garden over to private owners.

Following the October Revolution of 1917 the Society ceased to exist, and in 1919 the Zoological garden was nationalized. In 1922 it was transferred to the authority of Moscow City Council and since then it has been supported by the City Authorities. The Zoological garden territory was almost doubled.