The squirrel monkeys were still in their enclosure, it's the 2 islands in front of them that were empty; maybe I mistook the sakis with another monkey.
Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2024
- Thread starter Rhino00
- Start date
A couple of weeks ago I was in Prague. I was able to see the pangolins active in the light early in the morning, but I came back when the signs said they were being fed to watch them eat and they were neither fed nor active. Also, the lights were on in the morning, but the rest of the day they were off.
October arrivals / births.
2.2 Burmese brow-antlered deer, greater white pelican, 10 European pond turtles, 2 pink pigeons, the previously mentioned wattled jacana (*7.November), Sunda pig-tailed macaque, enigmatic leaf turtle, 3 coletos, 4 magpie geese, black marsh turtle
I might be wrong, but there is a possibility that those Cissa magpies arrived from Slovakia. Slovak police did a big hit on illegal bird breeders/traders in SW Slovakia few months ago and seized 500 of rare birds, including various SE Asian song birds. One of the suspects was Dutch but he managed to run away before police squad arrived Link
- puma - a pair arrived from Park Bouillon (Belgium) and Zoo Spišská Nová Ves (Slovakia) - This is a big surprise for me, I´ve never heard the zoo plans with this species. Does anybody know anything - why they arrived, where should they be exhibited?
- female Philippine porcupine arrived from Jihlava
- female Red-winged starling came from private breeder
- 4 Rufous-vented laughingthrushes (Pterorhinus gularis) came from private breeder
- 9 Yellow-breasted magpies (Cissa hypoleuca) came from unnamed breeding station
- 2 Green magpies (Cissa chinensis) came from unnamed breeding station
2.2 Burmese brow-antlered deer, greater white pelican, 10 European pond turtles, 2 pink pigeons, the previously mentioned wattled jacana (*7.November), Sunda pig-tailed macaque, enigmatic leaf turtle, 3 coletos, 4 magpie geese, black marsh turtle
I might be wrong, but there is a possibility that those Cissa magpies arrived from Slovakia. Slovak police did a big hit on illegal bird breeders/traders in SW Slovakia few months ago and seized 500 of rare birds, including various SE Asian song birds. One of the suspects was Dutch but he managed to run away before police squad arrived Link
Last edited:
Very interesting; a species I've never seen!
They could be being quarantined for a smaller zoo in Czechia
That doesnt sound probable.
Circa 2-4 years ago, Czech government baned private breeding and ownership of big cats (with exception of people with a zoo licence and licenced animal traders). There is also a new ban on commercial use of big cats and general ban on hand-rearing of cubs. And ban on circuses to use any non-domesticated animals. Also, we have new rules that dictate minimal enclosure space and equipment for big cats and now even several traditional zoos don´t reach t and must reconstruct.
Exististing privately owned animals were grandfathered under condition they can´t produce cubs and can´t be transferred within Czechia (only sold abroad or sent to licensed zoos). Slovakia accepted similar law around the same time. This has resulted in a huge glut of unvanted animals - because many existing owners wanted to get rid of their animals but there was little to no free and legal capacity that would accept them.
If we speak just about Czechia, there are still around 100-130 privately owned pumas today. Any small local zoo that would show even a little interest to accept a puma or two, would be flooded immedately by requests to take this or that animal (for free or even with some payment to the zoo).
Last edited:
cerperal
Well-Known Member
Perhaps holding them until the geriatric lion and tiger in the cat house pass? Unless there's space in there currently, I'm not sure what exhibit the fossa take up. Can't think of anywhere else they'd go especially given no construction has occurred recently as far as I'm aware.
It's a nice species should they continue holding them, underrepresented in Europe in zoos.
It's a nice species should they continue holding them, underrepresented in Europe in zoos.
I doubt Prague would want to go out of either lions or tigers permanently.
I agree. Pumas/cougars could always get some more love. However, I don’t think they are a much desired species amongst EAZA zoos and the public due to their conservation status and brown patternless coats.
My guess is that the zoo gets rid of their Amur leopards or Amur tigers before replacing them with cougars. But since both of those are studbook species I can’t see why the zoo is willing to give them up for cougars.
Kalaw
Well-Known Member
The former Javan Leopard and Clouded Leopard enclosures on the left wall of the Pavilion.
Very nice addition with the Pumas, and one that I am curious to see develop, as with the magpies.
I agree. Not to mention that current lion and tigers´ outdoor enclosures are open-topped and not suitable for good jumpers like puma or leopard.
I can´t imagine Prague going out of Amur leopards - for reason you mention. Almost all leopard EEPs are desperate for additional holding spaces. To waste some on generic pumas seems illogical. And they would also not pass into temperate Asian theming of that zoo corner.
You aren't wrong. The Dutch suspect has been convicted in Netherlands of bird smuggling and moved to Slovakia to create a "breeding center" which in reality was a transfer hub for birds smuggled into the EU from Serbia.
That would certainly be a curious and unnecessary move. Personally, I do find Pumas only fit the bill with zoos that primarily focus on northern hemisphere temperate species as well as North America area species. ZZ Praha has been closely associated with both Amur leopard, Amur and Sumatran tiger (would fit more with the S.E. Asia areas) an clouded leopards.
I do hope the puma are a temporary action.
I do hope they catch out the Dutch trader on the run. I wish Interpol would be more closely associated with IUCN-TRAFFIC and illegal wildlife trade and law enforcement. He should certainly now be on the Interpol international track and trace listing!
Maybe they want to create an North American corner around the new polar bear exhibit?
Then why wasn’t that in the plans? Why even obtain carnivores are large as cougars before the zoo even said they started construction (at least as far as I know) let alone the area is done
Last edited:
Well, there is some space in that part of zoo, behind/under deers and gorals paddock.
I wouldn´t be sad, if there would be some exposition in this "empty corner" - not sure however, if there is enough space for cougars. Also, I think that to build anything there could be problematic (due to native species, even though there were planned some aviaries, some years back)
- but thats just my utopic (or dystopic?) fantasy.
So most likely to me seem either cat house (former clouded leos. paddock? but wouldn´t that be too small for pair of pumas?), or, as someone mentioned, Prague serving only as an temporal option?
But both may be wrong and I´ll be surprised again
I wouldn´t be sad, if there would be some exposition in this "empty corner" - not sure however, if there is enough space for cougars. Also, I think that to build anything there could be problematic (due to native species, even though there were planned some aviaries, some years back)
- but thats just my utopic (or dystopic?) fantasy.
So most likely to me seem either cat house (former clouded leos. paddock? but wouldn´t that be too small for pair of pumas?), or, as someone mentioned, Prague serving only as an temporal option?
But both may be wrong and I´ll be surprised again
Actually, i meant if they use the Amur tiger and/or the Amur leopard exhibits for the cougars, they could create a North American zone quite easily.