Thanks Jana.. from the news report I just found the gorillas are still in the flood tower. Yesterday, the water was about 2,5-3 m under the top room of the flood tower where the gorillas are, but in the night, the water rose and it was feared that it would become necessary to evacuate them via boat. Thankfully, the water stopped 1,5 m under the room they are in. However, this shows that the flood tower is still not high enough to protect the gorilla family in case of just a bit more water. I hope they can be moved to Dvur ASAP and I very much hope that the will stick to its plan to NOT get them back before the lower part of the zoo is properly protacted against such a disaster (or the gorilla facility is relocated to the upper part of the zoo).
Prague Zoo Praha Prague Zoo News 2013
- Thread starter kiang
- Start date
uszoo
Well-Known Member
Thank god all of the animals survived unlike last time but this is a serious issue. The zoo cannot continue the cycle of getting destroyed and spending millions rebuilding. The zoo has made good progress moving exhibits to the upper zoo such as the elephants, orangutans and hippos. The zoo should move all parking to the flood prone lower zoo and use all of the space in the upper zoo for new exhibits including for gorillas. I hope also a concrete retaining wall is built on the zoos border with the river to prevent future floods. Good luck to everyone in Prague right now.
The future of the lower zoo part is up to a discussion between the zoo and the city. To find a solution and make a decision was agreed to be a top priority of the city council after the situation comes back to normal. It is already clear that the masterplan will change considerably.
Today, the water receded further (ca 1,5 meter) and the first cleaning of the place from mud, branches, litter... started. A strong pump should help to get the water from the lower zoo area. More then 10.000 local volunteers offered help with the cleaning. The upper part of the zoo is open, but only few visitors came, mostly because of the problems with transportation.
The rescued animals are still leaving the zoo. Each Czech zoo took over tens of animals, but some are still waiting in transport boxes at Prague. Javan leopard and sumatran tiger are now in Olomouc, Usti took a sloth, red varis and birds and will return for tortoises and cats, Brno has a malayan tiger and another 20-30 animals, Liberec keeps safe black vultures and ca 50 other birds, Plzen has +100 birds, some snakes and lizards, Dvur also a 4-days old marabou stork, Zlin took over indian hornbils and other birds and will return for spider monkeys, Ostrava took also many birds... I think that many lizards and turtles will have to go to private keepers because of limited capacity in other zoos.
A moose and a squirel money were born.
Today, the water receded further (ca 1,5 meter) and the first cleaning of the place from mud, branches, litter... started. A strong pump should help to get the water from the lower zoo area. More then 10.000 local volunteers offered help with the cleaning. The upper part of the zoo is open, but only few visitors came, mostly because of the problems with transportation.
The rescued animals are still leaving the zoo. Each Czech zoo took over tens of animals, but some are still waiting in transport boxes at Prague. Javan leopard and sumatran tiger are now in Olomouc, Usti took a sloth, red varis and birds and will return for tortoises and cats, Brno has a malayan tiger and another 20-30 animals, Liberec keeps safe black vultures and ca 50 other birds, Plzen has +100 birds, some snakes and lizards, Dvur also a 4-days old marabou stork, Zlin took over indian hornbils and other birds and will return for spider monkeys, Ostrava took also many birds... I think that many lizards and turtles will have to go to private keepers because of limited capacity in other zoos.
A moose and a squirel money were born.
@Jana, the lower area of the zoo is quite large so is there more land in the upper zoo that can be used to make big enclosures there for the likes of the tigers and other cats that are in the lower area? Also if I remember the reptile house is in the lower area plus many birds.
She will inform you that sadly there is none much. The upper part adjoining the zoo is a natural reserve / protected area (also - Jana correct me if I am wrong - a souslik experimental release / protection zone).
I haven´t heard about Amur leopard cubs. But they would be long overdue, it is ages since the last one has been born.
The last empty space that is owned by the zoo are meadows behind giraffes. It is a protected area because of several rare grassland-loving flora and fauna species. To build there anything is connected with strict requirements.
The last empty space that is owned by the zoo are meadows behind giraffes. It is a protected area because of several rare grassland-loving flora and fauna species. To build there anything is connected with strict requirements.
Thanks Jana, keep us posted if you hear anything.
Small news:
The talapoin group has a youngster.
A big horn sheep was born, bringing the group to 4 members.
I saw at least 2 yellow-billed stork chicks in the walk-though aviary.
The main elephant herd can now use the largest of their three pens. The zoo was waiting for a few weeks to let grow grass a little bit stronger.
One of the evacuated Caribbean flamingo eggs was sent to Jihlava zoo and hatched few days ago under an adoptive pair of Greater flamingos and will grow up in their creche.
The talapoin group has a youngster.
A big horn sheep was born, bringing the group to 4 members.
I saw at least 2 yellow-billed stork chicks in the walk-though aviary.
The main elephant herd can now use the largest of their three pens. The zoo was waiting for a few weeks to let grow grass a little bit stronger.
One of the evacuated Caribbean flamingo eggs was sent to Jihlava zoo and hatched few days ago under an adoptive pair of Greater flamingos and will grow up in their creche.
Nice to hear that the yellow-billed storks have chicks, like most storks they are rarely bred in zoos !
A German zoo-forum mentions 2 Rhinoceros hornbill chicks which were taken out of the nestbox because of the floods. The forum said that the chicks and the parents were re-united and everything works OKe !
Visited Prague Zoo last Friday (5th July).
A gorgeous day and a holiday in the Czech Republic so very busy.
All the flood water has receded but some of the lower zoo is still shut owing to damage.....I think mainly to the visitor areas.
The fur seal, penguin, gorilla, terrarium (old elephanty house), birds of prey and the aviary areas between the penguins and terrarium all open.
Big Cat Pavilion, Bird Wetlands (inc. Shoebills), Sichuan Pavilion, Water World and Monkey Islands, Childrens Zoo, Bird World and Gharial Pavilion all closed off to the public.
Lots of damage evident to buidlings visible (cafe kiosks, etc).
I think many animals have returned though, as I could see the Malayan tiger on a platform in its enclosure by looking from the near the Barbary Macaque/ Sheep enclosure.
The map shows a site for a future Giant Salamander House betwee the Giant Tortoise and Big Cat Pavilions.....not sure if any work had commenced on this but the tortoise pavilion looked very damaged....although possibly only cosmetically (it was shut to visitors but the tortoises were outlide).
Animals news.......Panay cloud rats not yet on display in Indonesian Jungle nocturnal area but Southern Giant Slender-tailed Cloud Rat (Phloemys cumingi) mixed with Balabac Mouse Deer.
Checkered Elelphant Shrew no longer in Africa From Near Pavilion (I guess this died in the end?), and replaced with Common Cusimanse.
Most else seemed similar to my last visit in 2011.
Has anyone actually ever seem the Gambian Pouched Rat which is apparantley mixed with the Talapoin?
Will post a few photos later....
A gorgeous day and a holiday in the Czech Republic so very busy.
All the flood water has receded but some of the lower zoo is still shut owing to damage.....I think mainly to the visitor areas.
The fur seal, penguin, gorilla, terrarium (old elephanty house), birds of prey and the aviary areas between the penguins and terrarium all open.
Big Cat Pavilion, Bird Wetlands (inc. Shoebills), Sichuan Pavilion, Water World and Monkey Islands, Childrens Zoo, Bird World and Gharial Pavilion all closed off to the public.
Lots of damage evident to buidlings visible (cafe kiosks, etc).
I think many animals have returned though, as I could see the Malayan tiger on a platform in its enclosure by looking from the near the Barbary Macaque/ Sheep enclosure.
The map shows a site for a future Giant Salamander House betwee the Giant Tortoise and Big Cat Pavilions.....not sure if any work had commenced on this but the tortoise pavilion looked very damaged....although possibly only cosmetically (it was shut to visitors but the tortoises were outlide).
Animals news.......Panay cloud rats not yet on display in Indonesian Jungle nocturnal area but Southern Giant Slender-tailed Cloud Rat (Phloemys cumingi) mixed with Balabac Mouse Deer.
Checkered Elelphant Shrew no longer in Africa From Near Pavilion (I guess this died in the end?), and replaced with Common Cusimanse.
Most else seemed similar to my last visit in 2011.
Has anyone actually ever seem the Gambian Pouched Rat which is apparantley mixed with the Talapoin?
Will post a few photos later....
is there a timetable for opening the lower part of the i'm visiting the zoo in two weeks and was realy looking forward to see at least gharials and big cat paviljon.
There is no timetable for opening the lower part, at least that I know of. I myself doubt both will be open at that time.
---
Gambian Pouched Rats - I have an annual zoo ticket for years but I´ve never seen any animal in this enclosure. Maybe the zoo just trolls us all?
---
Gambian Pouched Rats - I have an annual zoo ticket for years but I´ve never seen any animal in this enclosure. Maybe the zoo just trolls us all?
I read something about lion, tiger, leopard feeding on sunday (google translation sucks) Does the mean the big cat paviljon has reopend ?
The big cat pavilion is still closed this weekend. The enrichment plan for this Sunday includes Amur tigers and Amur leopards that live in the upper zoo part. The lion pic is only an illustrative one.
I still can´t find any timeplan for the re-opening.
Flamingos and pelicans are back in their enclosures. Tapirs went to Liberec because the repair of their house will take months. The restaurant Gaston has been assesed by a structural engineer and it must be torn down, it is too damaged to be repaired.
The opening ceremony for the new Giant salamander house has been postponed till next spring. The reconstruction of the old elephant house into Amazonia has been postponed till ca 2020 and it will be modified. The plan for enlargement of Australia section has been scratched.
I still can´t find any timeplan for the re-opening.
Flamingos and pelicans are back in their enclosures. Tapirs went to Liberec because the repair of their house will take months. The restaurant Gaston has been assesed by a structural engineer and it must be torn down, it is too damaged to be repaired.
The opening ceremony for the new Giant salamander house has been postponed till next spring. The reconstruction of the old elephant house into Amazonia has been postponed till ca 2020 and it will be modified. The plan for enlargement of Australia section has been scratched.
There was a stillborn cub earlier this spring.
The good news is that there is a breeding pair (Khanka x Kirin).
Article about the birth of 2 Giraffes :
Two Giraffes Born in One Week at Zoo Praha - ZooBorns
Two Giraffes Born in One Week at Zoo Praha - ZooBorns
The zoo opened their visitors´s path around crane pens.
What is still closed - large cat pavilion (but you can see some cats outside), tortoise house, children zoo, monkey islands and water world including gharials, chair-lift, restaurants in the lower zoo part.
New on show are groundhogs, kept together with North American porcupines. And New Guinea short-beaked echidnas have been placed in the night section of Indonesian pavilion.
Yesterday, elephant bull Mekong met the whole cow herd in the outside pens for the first time.
What is still closed - large cat pavilion (but you can see some cats outside), tortoise house, children zoo, monkey islands and water world including gharials, chair-lift, restaurants in the lower zoo part.
New on show are groundhogs, kept together with North American porcupines. And New Guinea short-beaked echidnas have been placed in the night section of Indonesian pavilion.
Yesterday, elephant bull Mekong met the whole cow herd in the outside pens for the first time.
Last edited by a moderator: