Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2024

nedpepper said:
Finally visited Prague last Friday and no wonder it’s considered one of the best in the world. Had a couple of questions for curiosity’s sake for anyone who may be able to answer:

- I’ve read the giant salamander enclosures are interconnected, but is that just in terms of water flow or do they move freely from tank to tank too? Also, surely the open topped tank built into the ground near the entrance is just for show and not a part of the exhibit?

- One of the only no shows I was disappointed by was the black and rufous sengi, but in the enclosure I saw what I thought looked just like an Etruscan shrew but didn’t notice another species signed in addition. Is that how young black and rufous sengi appear or does anyone know whats the species was if not?

- Another species that always alludes me is the echidna as was the same case here, but looking at the enclosure there was barely anywhere I can imagine them being able to hide from view anyway. Is there a hidden private area for them connected to the main exhibit that I didn’t notice perhaps?

A minor update is that the on-show indoor area for Tasmanian devils is covered over and being refurbished, I was fortunate to catch a glimpse of the last remaining specimen outside briefly though.
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Black and rufous sengis are currently off show (even tho they are still signed...but there is a small sign in Czech language which states that they are off show)
 
muskox2262 said:
Black and rufous sengis are currently off show (even tho they are still signed...but there is a small sign in Czech language which states that they are off show)
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Ha! Wasted quite a bit of time there then.

Having since checked ZTL and seeing that Prague is indeed a holder of Etruscan Shrew I’m pretty confident that’s what I saw in there.
 
I highly doubt that you saw Etruscan Shrew in the sengi exhibit, given the massive size differential, the unsuitability of the exhibit in question for that species, and the fact the shrews have their own exhibit.

I suspect what you actually saw were mice or rats which were not meant to be present ;)
 
May I ask where in the zoo this Black-and-rufous Sengi or Etruscan Shrew enclosure is, as both species are of great interest to me (the former a favourite and the latter a potential lifetick). And, if the Etruscans are not kept in there, then where is the other enclosure for them alluded to prior by TLD?
 
Kalaw said:
May I ask where in the zoo this Black-and-rufous Sengi or Etruscan Shrew enclosure is, as both species are of great interest to me (the former a favourite and the latter a potential lifetick). And, if the Etruscans are not kept in there, then where is the other enclosure for them alluded to prior by TLD?
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They both should be in Africa Up Close. I don’t remember by heart but the Etruscan shrew may be across the bat-eared fox and ratel indoor enclosure. However, I am free to be corrected.
 
TeaLovingDave said:
I highly doubt that you saw Etruscan Shrew in the sengi exhibit, given the massive size differential, the unsuitability of the exhibit in question for that species, and the fact the shrews have their own exhibit.

I suspect what you actually saw were mice or rats which were not meant to be present ;)
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This did cross my mind, especially as I noticed similarly to comments upthread there is a bit of a pest problem at Prague, but what I was saw was a lot smaller than the sengis, and was definitely not a rat or mouse.
 
HOMIN96 said:
Usti actually released etruscan shrews to their sloth enclosure to battle roaches in the enclosure so maybe Prague is trying that too...

though I agree that seeing them woud actually be quite an achievement :D
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Come to think of it a few enclosures over from there is a tree Shrew with the hyrax which is sign posted as being in there as a means of biological pest control, so this would make sense, although I could easily be wrong that the species is Etruscan specifically!
 
The zoo´s opened bidding process for the Arktida (polar bear exhibit) today. Construction companies have 2 months to send their price offers.

Source

A buffy fish owl chick hatched on 18th March. The zoo also received two female buffy fish owls from Walsrode in March. (source - list of arrivals and births)
 
Few snippets from a weekend visit:

- Philippine scops owl is again signed at its usual cage. It returned on show with warmer weather. On the other hand, species like marabou or secretary bird are still backstage.

- The room at devil house (opposite to echidna) is not boarded-off anymore. The only refurbishment done was removal and cut-back of vegetation. The staff has not even repaired inner wall painting gnawed-off by potorooos. Long-nosed potoroo is back there, but not birds (despite signage). I later found a wonga pigeon running with red-tailed black cockatoos but no luck with honeyeaters.

- Current species mixed with Brasilian merganser in the first Southamerican aviary - scarlet ibis (4), horned screamer (a pair), red-billed curassow (a pair) and a crested oropendola (single displaying male) were visible and signed.

- I saw 7 white-faced ibises in the second Southamerican aviary. But no luck with white-throated piping guan. I dont even know if that species is still signed there. An immature tame Roseate Spoonbill was resting on top of signage post and a large crowd of visitors surrounded it and took turns to snap selfies with it and pet it (grrrrh). I coudnt get through the crowd to read species signage.

- The new porcupine exhibit is still boarded-off. They will probably work on it till last minute (official opening date is 25th May).

- Still no flamingo eggs laid even when all 3 species showed some tentative interest in nest building.

- The former Indian leopard space in cat house is still vacant and empty.

Reminder to photographers - the only place in the whole zoo where you can´t take photos is the giant slamander house. There is always a staff member that oversees the ban (and can get nasty with visitors who disobey). This ban was imposed after observation that salamanders are irritated by red beam of light that cameras produce when they try to focus on objects. The ban includes hand phones and similar devices. However, it´s allowed to take photos of Mangshan pitviper and impressed tortoise that also live in the house.
 
Jana said:
The room at devil house (opposite to echidna) is not boarded-off anymore. The only refurbishment done was removal and cut-back of vegetation. The staff has not even repaired inner wall painting gnawed-off by potorooos. Long-nosed potoroo is back there, but not birds (despite signage). I later found a wonga pigeon running with red-tailed black cockatoos but no luck with honeyeaters.
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And yesterday, tasmanian devil female was moved there, according to social media of their keeper. I presume it is to make space in the off-show indoors for the new animals coming from Copenhagen.
 
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