Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2024

There were, in the past, visitor path between owl aviaries and reindeer paddocks... not sure how far it reaches...

When I look at satelite maps, that path goes up to moose and reindeer stables and then it returns down behind leopard cages.

If the zoo wanted to make deer visible, I could imagine it could build a wooden rised path that would start at gorals (behind restaurant) and go along fence between moose and deer pens. But it sounds unlikely because it wont be cheap, deer are not exactly crowd favorites and lastly it would offer only view from top to bottom and that is terrible perspective.

Nice to see that the Kiangs have moved, confirming that their enclosure will not be endangered by the Polar Bear construction.

I also notice that where the map previously had a label reading 'laughingthrush,' it now reads 'Birds of Southeast Asia.' Has the focus been drifting away from laughingthrushes enough over recent years to merit this change, or are they still the main focus and the change was purely a means to make the area sound more interesting to visitors?

Phase-out of kiangs has been decided decades ago. When last old animal dies, it wont return. I ´m just a little (positively!) surprised the zoo doesnt opt to retire kiangs to Dolni Dobrejov farm. I love kiangs so every day the species is on show is a bonus.

Aviaries tagged under 'Birds of Southeast Asia.' indeed dont have many laughtingtrushes left, maybe 1-2 species (at least what I recollect from last visit, I didnt pay attention in this area much).
 
- Arrival of female Crested oropendola from Zlin - while Zlin doesnt keep this species and at least according to ZTL it never´ve had.

This can be imho just a taxonomy mix-up or (probably more likely) Zlín was just a transit station and they didn't bother to mention original place.

And a birth of a callimico - but Prague doesnt keep this species at all!

They apparently have received confiscated animals, which would explain not mentioning the arrival.
 
They apparently have received confiscated animals, which would explain not mentioning the arrival.

It seems little inconsistent to list the callimico offspring when its parents are confiscated animals living (presumably) in the CITES centre and not in legal ownership of the zoo yet.

But I hope the zoo will get ownership and will move the family on show. After Prague sent Spix's moustached tamarins to Jihlava last year, it doesnt keep any marmoset or tamarin species at all.
 
But I hope the zoo will get ownership and will move the family on show. After Prague sent Spix's moustached tamarins to Jihlava last year, it doesnt keep any marmoset or tamarin species at all.
This begs the question where would the callimico be kept with the former tamarin holder being designated for tree hyraxes. Where else can the zoo keep them if not backstage?
 
This begs the question where would the callimico be kept with the former tamarin holder being designated for tree hyraxes. Where else can the zoo keep them if not backstage?
I have never visited the zoo and have no idea how most exhibits look, but Callitrichids are generally successful with mixes, perhaps they can mix then with other Central/South American animals
 
This begs the question where would the callimico be kept with the former tamarin holder being designated for tree hyraxes. Where else can the zoo keep them if not backstage?

Indeed, the zoo doesnt appear to have a spare enclosure to put them on show now.

In theory, they could temporarily be released into the atrium with Cyclura iguanas at big cat house. If the zoo would first remove small birds living there (they could be predated). It would not be zoogeographically correct place but a single green iguana lives there already so one more "wrong" species wont hurt. In the past, golden-headed lion tamarins were kept there so the space is proved to be safe for tamarins. And meanwhile they could build new enclosure for callimicos elsewhere in areal - the species doesnt need too much space, it could be squezed in somewhere.
 
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If the zoo wanted to make deer visible, I could imagine it could build a wooden rised path that would start at gorals (behind restaurant) and go along fence between moose and deer pens. But it sounds unlikely because it wont be cheap, deer are not exactly crowd favorites and lastly it would offer only view from top to bottom and that is terrible perspective.
Yup, similar idea strucked me. It would offer new perspective though, as you said, probably not worth it (than again, if there is some zoo in there which has money to waste for bridge used maybe by few ungulate-enthusiasts, it is Prague : D)
 
Does anyone know the species list of the newly-opened Gobi exhibit?
I don’t but this video shows (in addition to the announced horses and palla’s cats) long-eared hedgehog, a dwarf hamster, sand boa, and some reptiles I don’t know in the species level. The exhibit just opened today so I’d give it some time before someone comes out with a full species list.
 
Gobi has now 11 species on show:
- wild horse, manul, long-eared hedgehog, Roborowski dwarf hamster, Mongolian gerbil (wild form from nature), steppe lemming, tartar sand boa, sunwatcher toadhead agama (Phrynocephalus helioscopus varius), Przewalski´s toadhead agama, Gobi raceruner (Eremias przewalskii), cockroach (Eupolyphaga sinensis), Chinese scorpion (Olivierus martensii).

I find it a little pity they opted not to include birds. I think steppe eagle or saker falcon would fit nicely with this thema.
 
With the Brazilian mergansers installed in the aviary closest to the shoebills, what is the composition of the other three aviaries ? Are the horned screamer, white faced ibis and white throated piping guab still visible ?
 
I checked the list of planned events for visitors in April and two dates caught my eyes.

6.April - Farewell Party for Max and Rudi (young Asian elephant bulls)
13.April - Introduction of bird-of-paradise (at Rakos house)

Could any bird-of-paradise finally get on show or would we get only presentation of photos or stuffed animals by educational staff? Bets are on.

Link
 
Gobi has now 11 species on show:
- wild horse, manul, long-eared hedgehog, Roborowski dwarf hamster, Mongolian gerbil (wild form from nature), steppe lemming, tartar sand boa, sunwatcher toadhead agama (Phrynocephalus helioscopus varius), Przewalski´s toadhead agama, Gobi raceruner (Eremias przewalskii), cockroach (Eupolyphaga sinensis), Chinese scorpion (Olivierus martensii).

I find it a little pity they opted not to include birds. I think steppe eagle or saker falcon would fit nicely with this thema.

Thanks for supplying this great list. How many of the species were already at the zoo?
 
Thanks for supplying this great list. How many of the species were already at the zoo?

Only horses. Takhi horses are long time residents at Prague (since 1932). All other species were obtained during 2022-2024 specially for Gobi.

Manuls were kept at the zoo twice previously. First wild-caught pair the zoo received in 1951. Second time the zoo obtained manuls was shortly before year 2000, the zoo had plans to build a cage for them near temperate deer enclosures but that plan never materialised for whatever reason, so they spent all their time only backstage (that annoyed me to no end, I was so looking forward to finally see the species, was happy when Jihlava later got them on show). When it became clear no exhibit will be built, the zoo sent remaining animals away.

The agamas and racerunner are all I think wild-caught and direct imports. Some might be the only ones in captivity outside their range?

The zoo used to have a dedicated exhibit area for small rodents inside the original small mammal house (opened in 1956 and closed ca 2000, later rebuilt into Afrika Zblízka). I don´t know what exact small rodent species were kept there in that long row of dozens of small tanks lined along one wall, I never paid them attention, but I guess all 3 species in current Gobi line-up were among them, they are really commonly kept pets.

Long-eared hedgehogs were kept with some breaks for decades. They were at the small mammal house and later Afrika Zblízka. But (according to ZTL) the last wanished in 2013.

Tartar sand boas were obtained in 2022 - with Gobi in mind. Till March they remained only backstage.

I cant comment on the cockroaches and scorpions, sorry. I dont remember to ever see them at the zoo or read about them in historic articles, but that means nothing, I´m not an invertebrate person so I wouldn´t notice them anyway.
 
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I checked the list of planned events for visitors in April and two dates caught my eyes.

6.April - Farewell Party for Max and Rudi (young Asian elephant bulls)
13.April - Introduction of bird-of-paradise (at Rakos house)

Could any bird-of-paradise finally get on show or would we get only presentation of photos or stuffed animals by educational staff? Bets are on.

Link
The Bird-of-paradise news is so exciting, if true. I have wanted to see this species all my life, and my heart sank after seeing 'hinter den kulissen' under their ZTL listing, so hopefully you are correct in interpreting it as the live animals going on show.

Equally excellent news with the agama and racerunner. The list of must-see species on my visit later this year is now looking scarily long!
 
I cant comment on the cockroaches and scorpions, sorry. I dont remember to ever see them at the zoo or read about them in historic articles, but that means nothing, I´m not an invertebrate person so I wouldn´t notice them anyway.
I saw a scorpion exhibit very near the floor in the Indonesian House. It must have been one of the most awkwardly positioned exhibits in any zoo
 
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