Pangolin12's Czech-German trip 2018

pangolin12

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Well, I'm in Germany. I already went to Czech Republic but I had terrible network connection and - due to timing errors- I've had to limit my trip to 1 zoo a day.:(
So, here goes (any photo suggestions?):
29th may- Prague zoo
30th may- plzen zoo
31st may- Leipzig zoo
1st June- tierpark Berlin
2nd June- walsrode weltvogelpark
3rd June- Berlin zoo
 
Prague zoo
Saw some rarities (brown hyena, mechow's mole rat, Percival's legless skink, etc.)
Disappointed I didn't see New Guinea short beaked echidnas.
Overall, Prague is a lovely zoo with particularly grumpy staff (in cafes, gift shops) although I do recommend it to anyone
 
Plzen zoo
Absolutely outstanding.
After being approved for a behind the scenes tour, I new I was in for a treat.
Very lucky to see the last striped possum (which was leaving the next day!) and other rarities (goodman's mouse lemur, spear nose bats, alpine field mouse, etc.)
As for the on show collection, I've never seen so many birds in a collection! Most of the cages were amazing, with a few exceptions *cough cough - the tiny barn owl log cabin enclosure*
Unlucky that Africa by night house was closed for breeding, but hopefully we'll get some cape fox pups!
Overall, plzen zoo- in my eyes -is better than Prague zoo in many ways and I definitely recommend.
 
How do you get approval for a behind the scenes tour? Would they allow photos?
 
Leipzig zoo
Amazing.
Really excited to have seen a Chinese pangolin (eating fruit in a tree(an hour after feeding time).
As I found the Ansell's mole rat cage, I thought it was a guarantee I wouldn't see them until someone said "ooh look there's a mouse there" - i just stared at him on his way out.
Gondwanaland is probably the best tropical house I have ever entered - with air con at the end!
Before you ask, yes, I did see the giant squirrel - a big delight:)
Cafe staff are grumpy and don't know the difference between still and sparkling water! However the kiosk worker is particularly funny.
Overall, superb zoo with many exciting species and exhibits, just needs the touch of friendliness.
 
How do you get approval for a behind the scenes tour? Would they allow photos?

You could perhaps do what I did which is just ask for Martin the day I visited. Pangolin can probably give the best update, but the offshow collection is being moved/the space is being renovated so it might not be the best time.
 
Overall, Prague is a lovely zoo with particularly grumpy staff (in cafes, gift shops)

Exactly my experience too, over a number of visits. The irony is, that the shops actually sell things somebody might wish to buy; the pity is that the staff who work there resent selling these items to you. I have to say, this was my experience in a number of Czech zoos, where cheeriness is not often seen; further south, in my experience, things are different.
 
Well, I'm in Germany. I already went to Czech Republic but I had terrible network connection and - due to timing errors- I've had to limit my trip to 1 zoo a day.:(
So, here goes (any photo suggestions?):
29th may- Prague zoo
30th may- plzen zoo
31st may- Leipzig zoo
1st June- tierpark Berlin
2nd June- walsrode weltvogelpark
3rd June- Berlin zoo

Very much for the best that you limited it to one collection a day. With the exception of Leipzig these are all full-day zoos even for relatively quick movers like me.
 
Very much for the best that you limited it to one collection a day. With the exception of Leipzig these are all full-day zoos even for relatively quick movers like me.
I didn't even get time to do plzen AkvaTera!
 
Walsrode weltvogelpark
Beautiful.
Saw kagus (a lifer for me (unless I see them at Berlin tomorrow))
Also saw golden headed quetzals - a beautiful taxon.
Sad to see the long wattled umbrellabird wasn't signed, as I had to carefully visit every enclosure in the tropical house.
Saw three out of four birds of paradise (the elusive King BOP slipped me)
Got a stuffed shoebill:p
Overall, it is a stunning collection with an array of colours!
 
Whoops I forgot:
Tierpark Berlin
Saw all three takins!
Finally saw the echidna!
Small manatee cage!
Good zoo!
(Manatee cage size based on the size of cage at burgers zoo)
Good to see the sun bears getting a larger cage
Also, I saw the Malay civit! Some good pics too!
It started pouring with rain but I saw a brown pelican happily splashing in the downpour.;)
 
Sad to see the long wattled umbrellabird wasn't signed, as I had to carefully visit every enclosure in the tropical house.

It was signed just last week.... But maybe somebody took the sign, there were more signs than places to put them, so they were up for grabs there....
 
It was signed just last week.... But maybe somebody took the sign, there were more signs than places to put them, so they were up for grabs there....
When I visited all the signs for the exhibit were gone...
 
Berlin zoo
Really good.
Saw alpine marmot after many failed attempts.
Also saw kiwi!
Meng meng and Jao Qin have settled in well.
World of birds was amazing! Never seen anything like it!
Overall, Berlin zoo was really good but nothing like Plzen.
 
Order in favourites
6- Prague zoo
5- tierpark Berlin
4- Leipzig zoo
3- Berlin zoo
2- walsrode weltvogelpark
1- plzen zoo
 
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