Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2022

Has a date for the gorilla pavilion opening been announced? I am hoping to visit Prague but want to wait until it is open.
 
August births and arrivals has been published:

2 chicks of yellow-billed amazon
7 chicks of Hartlaub's duck
1 Malyan buffy fish owl
1 scaly-breasted lorikeet
1 purple-naped lory
3 Horsfield's tortoises
5 Texas gopher tortoises
1 Edwards's fig parrot
1 Javan rusa deer
2 Bali mynah
2 helmethead geckos (Tarentola chazaliae)
4 magpie geese
2 black-breasted leaf turtles (Geoemyda spengleri)
1 goliath palm cockatoo
2 Mitchell's lorikeets
1 male bongo
3 Burmese Eld's Deer
1 Malayan peacock-pheasant

1 male Bewick swan from Hluboka
1 male red-legged seriema from Olomouc
2 male red river hogs from Emmen
1 pair of Eurasian oystercatcher from Zürich
1 male Egyptian vulture from Paris and a female from Stara Zagora
1 male black and rufous elephant shrew from Leipzig
 
The new gorilla pavilion "Dja Reserve" was presented to the media this week, before its official opening on September 28.
The species finally are :
- Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with mantled guereza (Colobus guereza) ;
- De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) with Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) ;
- Gabon talapoin (Miopithecus ogouensis) with African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) ;
- Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) with Straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) ;
and some terrariums with brown banana frog (Afrixalus dorsalis), forest hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys erosa), red-legged nephila (Trichonephila inaurata), assassin bugs (Psyttala horrida) and sun beetles (Pachnoda, Chlorocala and Dicronorrhina sp).

Press kit and map of the area :
Rezervace Dja: nový pavilon goril (zoopraha.cz)

Do zoo regulars know what species will live on the ancient colobus's island ? and in the African House instead of the talapoins ?
 
The new gorilla pavilion "Dja Reserve" was presented to the media this week, before its official opening on September 28.
The species finally are :
- Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) with mantled guereza (Colobus guereza) ;
- De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus) with Red river hog (Potamochoerus porcus) ;
- Gabon talapoin (Miopithecus ogouensis) with African brush-tailed porcupine (Atherurus africanus) ;
- Gambian pouched rat (Cricetomys gambianus) with Straw-coloured fruit bat (Eidolon helvum) ;
and some terrariums with brown banana frog (Afrixalus dorsalis), forest hinge-back tortoise (Kinixys erosa), red-legged nephila (Trichonephila inaurata), assassin bugs (Psyttala horrida) and sun beetles (Pachnoda, Chlorocala and Dicronorrhina sp).

Press kit and map of the area :
Rezervace Dja: nový pavilon goril (zoopraha.cz)

Do zoo regulars know what species will live on the ancient colobus's island ? and in the African House instead of the talapoins ?
This is an interesting exhibit, that doesn't limit to the ABC and other popular species. Only the birds are missing, maybe.
 
Do zoo regulars know what species will live on the ancient colobus's island ? and in the African House instead of the talapoins ?

The former colobus island now has a group of kattas and a pair of white-headed lemurs. No idea about the talapoin exhibit, it still had talapoins when I last visited it (1 month ago). Will find out during next visit.
 
The former colobus island now has a group of kattas and a pair of white-headed lemurs. No idea about the talapoin exhibit, it still had talapoins when I last visited it (1 month ago). Will find out during next visit.

Ok thanks ! So lemurs are no longer presented in walkthrough exhibit ?
 
Hi fellow Zoochatters, I'm in Prague having just completed my first ever visit to the zoo (in a word, wow). I'm going back tomorrow, coincidentally just in time for the new gorilla pavilion opening, but had a couple of questions/requests for advice.

Had no luck today with a couple of cat species in the feline and reptile house, despite spending probably around 2 hours in and around the building. The main no-show was of course the Palawan leopard cats. I was there in the early afternoon until around 3pm, during which time all of the largest inhabitants of the building were very active, but no sign of the leopard cats. Is there a good time to visit to maximise my chances of seeing this beautiful species?

According to Zootierliste and a post earlier in this thread by @Fat-tailed dwarf lemur, the Philippine palm civet is on display in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian Jungle, but having spent quite a bit of time there today, seeing the cloud rats, slow loris, ground cuscus, and of course the pangolins, I couldn't see the civets anywhere. Did I miss something or have they recently gone off-show?

I visited Darwin's Crater towards the end of the day when it was getting dark with heavy rain clouds, usually the better time to see shy nocturnal mammals, but had no luck in seeing the Tasmanian devils, wombats, or echidnas (potoroos and woylies were both active at that time). Is there a better time to visit this section?

Thanks!
 
Had no luck today with a couple of cat species in the feline and reptile house, despite spending probably around 2 hours in and around the building. The main no-show was of course the Palawan leopard cats. I was there in the early afternoon until around 3pm, during which time all of the largest inhabitants of the building were very active, but no sign of the leopard cats. Is there a good time to visit to maximise my chances of seeing this beautiful species?
Oof. I also faced the same problem on my visit in June so I feel you. Having only seen the lions and the clouded leopard, I ditto your question.

According to Zootierliste and a post earlier in this thread by @Fat-tailed dwarf lemur, the Philippine palm civet is on display in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian Jungle, but having spent quite a bit of time there today, seeing the cloud rats, slow loris, ground cuscus, and of course the pangolins, I couldn't see the civets anywhere. Did I miss something or have they recently gone off-show?
I assume you already did but I still want to ask if you looked upwards towards the ceiling. I remember seeing one individual climbing up high.
 
I assume you already did but I still want to ask if you looked upwards towards the ceiling. I remember seeing one individual climbing up high.

I didn't see them signed anywhere, I can't imagine they would have shared with any of the others that were there (cuscus, cloud rat, slow loris, pangolins), but I could be mistaken.
 
Had no luck today with a couple of cat species in the feline and reptile house, despite spending probably around 2 hours in and around the building. The main no-show was of course the Palawan leopard cats. I was there in the early afternoon until around 3pm, during which time all of the largest inhabitants of the building were very active, but no sign of the leopard cats. Is there a good time to visit to maximise my chances of seeing this beautiful species?
Thanks!
I was lucky on my last visit, being there quite late (lets say 6 AM? but that was in the summer), not sure if that helps.
About echidnas I can´t personally help, never see them...
There may be vombat feeding at 14 o´clock, so there may be chance to see him at least (and in 14:30 theres meeting with tasmanian devils, but I am not sure if thats mean they will be visible certainly)
 
The main no-show was of course the Palawan leopard cats. I was there in the early afternoon until around 3pm, during which time all of the largest inhabitants of the building were very active, but no sign of the leopard cats. Is there a good time to visit to maximise my chances of seeing this beautiful species?

Mid-to-late afternoon seems to be the best time, from my experience across three visits (2017, 2019 and 2022).

the Philippine palm civet is on display in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian Jungle, but having spent quite a bit of time there today, seeing the cloud rats, slow loris, ground cuscus, and of course the pangolins, I couldn't see the civets anywhere. Did I miss something or have they recently gone off-show?

The species is no longer held within the collection.

but had no luck in seeing the Tasmanian devils, wombats, or echidnas (potoroos and woylies were both active at that time). Is there a better time to visit this section?

As far as the Tassies go, the later you leave it, the better :) it's pretty much a luck-based mission for the other two.
 
Hi fellow Zoochatters, I'm in Prague having just completed my first ever visit to the zoo (in a word, wow). I'm going back tomorrow, coincidentally just in time for the new gorilla pavilion opening, but had a couple of questions/requests for advice.

Had no luck today with a couple of cat species in the feline and reptile house, despite spending probably around 2 hours in and around the building. The main no-show was of course the Palawan leopard cats. I was there in the early afternoon until around 3pm, during which time all of the largest inhabitants of the building were very active, but no sign of the leopard cats. Is there a good time to visit to maximise my chances of seeing this beautiful species?

According to Zootierliste and a post earlier in this thread by @Fat-tailed dwarf lemur, the Philippine palm civet is on display in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian Jungle, but having spent quite a bit of time there today, seeing the cloud rats, slow loris, ground cuscus, and of course the pangolins, I couldn't see the civets anywhere. Did I miss something or have they recently gone off-show?

I visited Darwin's Crater towards the end of the day when it was getting dark with heavy rain clouds, usually the better time to see shy nocturnal mammals, but had no luck in seeing the Tasmanian devils, wombats, or echidnas (potoroos and woylies were both active at that time). Is there a better time to visit this section?

Thanks!

Really grateful for this post! I'm due to visit Prague for the 1st time next month, so appreciate the heads up on which species to time my visit around
 
Damn! And I would swear they were there likte three months back...

On my 2019 visit, the palm civets were in the last part of where the pangolins were when I was there earlier this month - so I think they probably went when the pangolins went in.
 
I would agree the best bet for Palawan Leopard Cat is late afternoon, though I only managed a head poking from a box this time myself over two days.

We were able to spot spines of an echidna poking out of the substrate but we didn't see it 'surface' at all.

We also wouldn't have seen the wombat or devils were it not for special arrangements made for Zoohistorica attendees..!
 
Thanks for all the advice. It was a wet morning in Prague so I probably put my body through too much discomfort than I realised and ended up vomiting once I got back to the hotel. I seem to be OK now, but it's made my trip to Plzen tomorrow a bit doubtful.

I did see the Palawan cat! At around 5:50 pm, while the feline/reptile pavilion was quiet, it peeped its head out to watch me for a few minutes, and then some more people came in and it retreated, then I had to leave the pavilion. Still, it was an unforgettable moment. Stopped by the Tasmanian devils at the right time when one was just waking up, at around 4pm. Still no luck with wombats or echidnas.

I also seem to be one of the first members of the public to have visited the new Dja Reservation pavilion for gorillas and other Central African wildlife. I arrived at the adjacent new entrance at around 10am and the entrance to the pavilion was cordoned off and there were press members hanging around. After waiting in the rain for too long (hence probably why I was sick), I decided to leave and come back later, so I wasn't one of the very first visitors but still on opening day.

First impressions: lots of fake rock, lots of space for visitors, stadium style seating overlooking indoor and outdoor quarters for the gorillas. Viewing of the talapoin/brush-tailed porcupine was nice and bright - they had roam of two connected indoor enclosures and a small outdoor enclosure. Straw-coloured fruit bats and (unseen) Gambian pouched rat have a darkened area behind a wall, not very large though. De Brazza's guenons and (unseen) red river hogs have a large outdoor enclosure and presumably offshow indoor quarters. Two large connected indoor rooms and a large outdoor paddock are for the gorillas and (unseen) guerezas. The other inhabitants, various invertebrates including chafers and edible silk spider, and the unseen banana frog and hinge-back tortoise, live in two adjacent glass tanks above the indoor "stadium", easily missed, so it's good there is a floor-plan outside the entrance to make me realise they were there. Also a well-supplied gift shop on the way out, but with much the same merchandise as the other shops, except for some African jewellery and more specific Dja Reservation merchandise like cups and t-shirts.
 
Thanks for all the advice. It was a wet morning in Prague so I probably put my body through too much discomfort than I realised and ended up vomiting once I got back to the hotel. I seem to be OK now, but it's made my trip to Plzen tomorrow a bit doubtful.

I did see the Palawan cat! At around 5:50 pm, while the feline/reptile pavilion was quiet, it peeped its head out to watch me for a few minutes, and then some more people came in and it retreated, then I had to leave the pavilion. Still, it was an unforgettable moment. Stopped by the Tasmanian devils at the right time when one was just waking up, at around 4pm. Still no luck with wombats or echidnas.

I also seem to be one of the first members of the public to have visited the new Dja Reservation pavilion for gorillas and other Central African wildlife. I arrived at the adjacent new entrance at around 10am and the entrance to the pavilion was cordoned off and there were press members hanging around. After waiting in the rain for too long (hence probably why I was sick), I decided to leave and come back later, so I wasn't one of the very first visitors but still on opening day.

First impressions: lots of fake rock, lots of space for visitors, stadium style seating overlooking indoor and outdoor quarters for the gorillas. Viewing of the talapoin/brush-tailed porcupine was nice and bright - they had roam of two connected indoor enclosures and a small outdoor enclosure. Straw-coloured fruit bats and (unseen) Gambian pouched rat have a darkened area behind a wall, not very large though. De Brazza's guenons and (unseen) red river hogs have a large outdoor enclosure and presumably offshow indoor quarters. Two large connected indoor rooms and a large outdoor paddock are for the gorillas and (unseen) guerezas. The other inhabitants, various invertebrates including chafers and edible silk spider, and the unseen banana frog and hinge-back tortoise, live in two adjacent glass tanks above the indoor "stadium", easily missed, so it's good there is a floor-plan outside the entrance to make me realise they were there. Also a well-supplied gift shop on the way out, but with much the same merchandise as the other shops, except for some African jewellery and more specific Dja Reservation merchandise like cups and t-shirts.
Hope for you to get better and eventually enjoy Pilsen!
Glad for palawan cat (have exactly same experience : D once from... mhm... many visits :D)
About (too much?) space for visitors - I guess it is after experiences with "old" gorilla house, especially in summer terribly overcrowded
Btw does anyone know about red river hogs? Maybe they aren´t there yet?
(they were already photos of various inhabitants before Dja opening, but hogs either weren´t among them, or I missed them)
@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur - thanks, glad my memory works well
 
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