ZOO Dvůr Králové Dvůr Králové
- Thread starter kifaru
- Start date
sooty mangabey
Well-Known Member
...or, they sensibly managed the breeding so as to avoid having to place a lion in a facility where the care would be less than optimum. Too easy for you to take potshots at a zoo in the Czech Republic, from “out on the rim of New York”, without having any appreciation at all of what they are doing, and why.
Manny, one of the 5 rhinos transported to Rwanda last year has died. The cause of death is yet to be determined but he was certainly not killed by poachers.
That is unfortunate, but maladaption can happen.
I do not think it will impinge on the general reintroduction effort. The current Rwandan group is mixed from South Africa farm raised Diceros bicornis michaeli and zoo bred from European East Africans.
Elephantelephant
Well-Known Member
This is sad, but when placing captured animals in the wild it happens. I read that maybe he died of some digestive problems. It may have caused the transition to an African diet that has been manifested until now, but I don't know if it's possible, I don't understand.
According to news article, the zoo has seen only 60% of usual attendance during May this year. Regular ticket price grows now by 0,30 USD per person to partly offset missing revenue (almost 1mio USD so far). The owner of the zoo (local goverment) will pay ca 0,5 mio USD to partly cover the loss.
Several planned repairs have been deffered and the zoo postponed agreed increase of wages by 5% till autumn this year. But the zoo holds its investment plan and in next few days it will start construction of new restaurant and flamingo aviary (lesser flamingos), which is first part of new Soutwest-African area. Next year, it should continue with penguin and hyena exhibits. Opening 2021-2022 (in phases).
Several planned repairs have been deffered and the zoo postponed agreed increase of wages by 5% till autumn this year. But the zoo holds its investment plan and in next few days it will start construction of new restaurant and flamingo aviary (lesser flamingos), which is first part of new Soutwest-African area. Next year, it should continue with penguin and hyena exhibits. Opening 2021-2022 (in phases).
Some bits from Dvur's annual report:
• New species: Grey Mouse Lemur, Southern Springhare, Hartlaub's duck, African Pygmy-goose, Red-footed Falcon and some more but these I deemed "notable"
• Started attempts to breed okapi
• Ongoing problems with the breeding of small antelopes (Springbok, Thomson's), mothers are rejecting the offsprings and the rate of successful hand-rearing is small so far.
• African Elephant should arrive (no more details added) either this or next year.
• Gorilla female was supposed to arrive, in the first half of 2020 but I assume that is postponed.
• The Terrarium, currently in reconstruction will hold Slender-snouted crocodiles.
• Due to lack of interest in holding these species they will reduce the number of eggs produced by some bird species (Abdim's stork, some egrett species...)
• New species: Grey Mouse Lemur, Southern Springhare, Hartlaub's duck, African Pygmy-goose, Red-footed Falcon and some more but these I deemed "notable"
• Started attempts to breed okapi
• Ongoing problems with the breeding of small antelopes (Springbok, Thomson's), mothers are rejecting the offsprings and the rate of successful hand-rearing is small so far.
• African Elephant should arrive (no more details added) either this or next year.
• Gorilla female was supposed to arrive, in the first half of 2020 but I assume that is postponed.
• The Terrarium, currently in reconstruction will hold Slender-snouted crocodiles.
• Due to lack of interest in holding these species they will reduce the number of eggs produced by some bird species (Abdim's stork, some egrett species...)
The Mouse Lemur in particular is notable - I believe they actually recieved Ganzhorn's Mouse Lemur!
I am surprised that there is no mention of the Sunda gharial they held. I previously had thought they would retain them. They have transferred them to where?
Slender snouted crocodiles ... is that Crocodylus cataphractus or the other species?
Slender snouted crocodiles ... is that Crocodylus cataphractus or the other species?
If I recall the current thinking correctly, it will likely be hybrids - most of the animals in Europe are descended from a mixed pair which was held at the old Emmen.
There is a mention - the female is laying eggs regularly but she doesn't care for them and they are not fertilised.
At this point it's quite clear that they'll be eventually moving on...it's the same with orangutans, where the report actually mentions that they are continuously destroying equipment of their exhibit and keeping them there is not sustainable.
Aha, I guess the crocs will be transferred to Protovin eventually.
They list them as murinus
So I noticed - but they came from Prague, which only keeps ganzhorni
I presume that Dvur either don't know of the new species, or don't accept it.
They list them as murinus
To be honest, they also list their Cercopithecus as campbelli even though they're definitely lowei so I wouldn't take the studbook's taxonomy to the letter
I don't want to speculate on the timeframe, it is pretty much given since the whole "Africa-only" rebranding, but that was some time ago already. Also, the adult orangutan female isn't exactly young so I wouldn't be surprised if she stayed until her death.
I do think there are quite a few bigger zoos with large orang groups and facilities able to take in 0.2 Bornean orang utan, to be honest.
The timeframe for moving the Sunda gharial is up in the air and they are a long term fave/speciality of DK, but I think that between now and probably 2-3 years they will move to a zoo or specialised facility serious and able to take part in the EEP breeding program for Sunda gharial in Europe. I am more leaning towards one of the specialist croc/reptile zoos or perhaps .... (I am loath to talk that line publicly).
Relating to African elephant additions soon or this year when international restrictions come down: there are a few possibilities for DK to actually be able to set up a breeding herd - an ambition they more or less have had for the past decade now and due to older animals and ups and downs with bulls have never as yet been able to enjoy. I think it is more than realistic that DK can and will be a new location for a functioning breeding herd before not too long. That would be an absolute Wow!