Is this the best mustelid collection and exhibit complex in the zoo world? It looks like a contender based on my limited knowledge of mustelid exhibits.
This row actually has two enclosures for European Wildcat at the other end as well (not that I expect that will dampen AD's enthusiasm!).
This was a very good trip all-round for mustelids - full list was:
Asian Short-clawed Otter (Aonyx cinerea) - Prague, Usti
Canadian Otter (Lontra canadensis) - Prague
European Otter (Lutra lutra lutra) - Pilsen
Tayra (Eira barbara) - Prague
Wolverine (Gulo gulo) - Chomutov (no-show at Usti)
Saharan Striped Weasel* (Ictonyx libycus libycus) - Pilsen
European Beech Marten* (Martes foina foina) - Chomutov (no-show at Decin)
Nothern Yellow-throated Marten (Martes flavigula aterrima) - Chomutov (no-show at Dresden)
European Badger (Meles meles meles) - Decin, Chomutov
South African Ratel* (Mellivora capensis capensis) - Prague
East African Ratel (Mellivora capensis cottoni) - Prague
Chinese Ferret-Badger (Melogale moschata) - Prague
Siberian Weasel (Mustela sibirica) - Dresden (no-show at Chomutov)
Syrian Marbled Polecat* (Vormela peregusna syriaca) - Pilsen
We missed out on European Mink (Mustela lutreola), which was a no-show at Decin. Species marked * were lifetime firsts for me.
Czech zoos being what they are, most mammal groups were similarly well-represented as well, however - we saw a total of (subject to final count-up) 386 mammal taxa in nine days of zooing - more than I saw in the whole of 2006 and only one fewer than 2007.
Back to Chomutov - one odd mustelid omission is that they have no otters - Eurasian otters would fit their Palaearctic theme perfectly.
If you want to see a lot of mammals, go to the Czech Republic!
And apart from that, Prague and Pilsen in particular are two of Europe's very best zoos, showing that large collections don't have to mean 19th-century-style exhibits.
