Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2021

Well if they want to make it "Asia-only" I assume it's the end for Scimitar-horned oryx and Bison, possibly Wisent and Chaco peccary, unless those will be moved elsewhere but space where can they go is very limited and it would require other species to go...but we'll see, there aren't any plans public yet so everything is pure speculation now.
Yes, wisents should move too, according to directors facebook (to some sort of "reservation" outside of zoo - similar to new Przewalski horses paddock)
Didn´t know about "retheming", must say that I am not happy about leave of both bovid species, hope there will be some another (gaurs, maybe? - just pure speculation)

And any news about new polar bear enclosure? Will they build it simultaneously with Plains reconstruction or will it be postpone?
 
An article at local newspaper describes plans for new wild horse enclosure at zoo (after the current one is demolished). Stables with 6 boxes should be built north of current ones, with green roof. Two open horse pens with 2000 and 1000 m2. A manul encosure. And a wooden house containing Mongolian reptiles at highest point of the plain (under which a new large underground water tank will be built).
 
edit: also wonder about those rhinos. There were two master plans (or something like that) - in older, there were indian rhinos (in Plains), in newer, there were african rhinos next to Giraffe house...
Perhaps Jana knows more and comment on the giraffe and rhino developments?
 
Indian rhinos on plain is current plan. White rhinos behind giraffes seems to be shelved for a while.

Edit:
April births were announced, no really unusual ones, weak spring I guess. Two hyazinth macaws chicks after a long while. The beisa calf is a female. And Omei Liocichla returns. Zero singing birds hatchlings, zero flamingos, zero cats, few reptiles.
 
Last edited:
The zoo has started a new EEP/studbook - for Aldabra giant tortoise. Currently it encompases around 400 animals in 80 EAZA institutions.
Jana, you are a star and so is Zoo Praha. It is long overdue to manage Aldabran and Seychelles giant tortoises in European zoos. As is some conservation breeding for the species and attempts at improving general husbandry and captive management. I assume the number of 400 individuals at 80 institutions may be an underestimate of the actual numbers. Still, a good start!

I wish for same efforts in AZA SSP where Tulsa Zoo has been the only consistent breeding institution of Aldabran giant tortoises.
 
The zoo presented some current pics of the new gorilla house on their FB. The opening date got pushed back to autumn 2022 (and I bet it will be pushed again, but I hope at least 2023 it will open). And we have the official line-up: gorillas (one breeding and one bachelor group), guerezas, DeBrazza guenon (new species), African giant pouched rat, Egyptian fruit bat, Gabon talapoin and African Brush-tailed Porcupine.

Will be interesting to know what will replace gorillas, guerezas and talapoins in their current exhibits. But Im really happy talapoins will finally get something new and nicer.
 
The zoo presented some current pics of the new gorilla house on their FB. The opening date got pushed back to autumn 2022 (and I bet it will be pushed again, but I hope at least 2023 it will open). And we have the official line-up: gorillas (one breeding and one bachelor group), guerezas, DeBrazza guenon (new species), African giant pouched rat, Egyptian fruit bat, Gabon talapoin and African Brush-tailed Porcupine.

Will be interesting to know what will replace gorillas, guerezas and talapoins in their current exhibits. But Im really happy talapoins will finally get something new and nicer.

Will the guerezas, DeBrazza guenons and Gabon Talapoins live together with the gorilla's or will they all have different inside enclosures in the gorilla house?
 
Will the guerezas, DeBrazza guenons and Gabon Talapoins live together with the gorilla's or will they all have different inside enclosures in the gorilla house?

Based on layout, guerezas and guenons should be mixed with gorillas, plus they should have separated (invisible) boxes. Talapoins have separated enclosure with ceiling that can be opened so they don´t have own outside enclosure, just those 40 m2 inside the house. But this might change based on real life experiences with the mixing of the species I guess. Also, this house should have a few tanks for fish/reptiles according to initial info, but nothing has been announced yet so who knows, maybe was it scraped?
 
Based on layout, guerezas and guenons should be mixed with gorillas, plus they should have separated (invisible) boxes. Talapoins have separated enclosure with ceiling that can be opened so they don´t have own outside enclosure, just those 40 m2 inside the house. But this might change based on real life experiences with the mixing of the species I guess. Also, this house should have a few tanks for fish/reptiles according to initial info, but nothing has been announced yet so who knows, maybe was it scraped?

Interesting, so can the ceiling of the Talpoin enclosure be opened completely or only partly?
 
Wow thx!
Saw pictures, know about date (and being not happy about it :D) but didn´t see proposed species list yet, I am glad about it (didn´t expect so many species, more like something in style of current gorilla house)
 
The zoo will re-open on Monday 12th.

All local zoos and botanical gardens can re-open again, however under strong measures. Only 20% of max capacity of visitors is allowed. All indoor spaces must stay closed. Food/drinks can be sold only as take-away or from automats. Visitors must wear respirators all the time. Prague zoo will allow max 4.000 visitors at any given time within its areal (turnover will be counted on all entry and exit points). It urges public to voluntarily plan for half-day visits during weekends so that more people can go though its gates. It will refrain from selling alcohol.

The dangerously bad financial plight of local zoos has resonated within public and popular media within last ca 2-3 weeks. Just today morning during my commute, I have heard 2 really popular radio stations asking its listeners to visit zoos once they re-open to help them out.

I just found out I will be heading to Prague and the zoo for the first time in early July. Do you know if there are still this level of restrictions for Covid or can you go inside now too?
 
You can go inside into some pavillons (big cats, giraffe, gorillas... Indonesian jungle or Parrot house are closed for now) and theres still limit for number of visitors in areal at one time (10 000) and in those houses, which are open
 
I just found out I will be heading to Prague and the zoo for the first time in early July. Do you know if there are still this level of restrictions for Covid or can you go inside now too?

Unless anything crazy happens, I think it will be safe to assume that in July, there will be already no limit on capacity, and all houses will be opened again (but wearing a facemask will possibly still be required there)
 
Unless anything crazy happens, I think it will be safe to assume that in July, there will be already no limit on capacity, and all houses will be opened again (but wearing a facemask will possibly still be required there)
Thanks both! Really excited to go especially for Brown Hyena and Shoebills.
 
Two breeding pairs of Edwards's pheasant have currently 8 chicks among them, but they are kept off-show now, a third pair is incubating. The zoo plans to send 2(?) adult pairs to Zoo Taipei.

Current rules for zoo visits
- zoos have no limit of their daily attendance
- everyone can buy a ticket on spot and enter a zoo, no tests or certificates needed
- zoo pavilions still have limit of 1 person per 15 m2, but this rule will be lifted soon
- all indoor public spaces require a mask
- zoo restaurants and hotels are open again, but customers must prove they are low-risk (by either: first vaccine dose 22 days or older, negative PCR test max 7 days old, negative antigen test max 72 hours old, or doctor´s certificate of covid positivity not older than 180 days).

Czech republic allows entry to tourists from Germany, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia and Croatia after 22 days since their first vaccine dose. They can cross the border and use all tourist facilities (hotels, restaurants, swimming pools etc.) without testing.

The UK is still a red zone and that means UK tourists are not allowed in, only system relevant people can come (with negative PRC test and quarantine).
 
Back
Top