Past and present of Prague Zoo

[czech_invertebrates]

This thread will be focusing on the past and present of Prague Zoo
Everyday or so,I will be posting taxonomic groups of animals and species in that specific group that have been or are held at Prague Zoo
I will be starting with MONOTREMES

MONOTREMES:

PAST:

Short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus)
According to zootierliste these echidnas were imported in the years 1954 and 1955 it was three males and one female. One of the animals lived 48 years (1955-2004). With the reconstruction of the house of small mammals (today Africa up close) in the year 2004 they were moved away.


PRESENT:
New guinean short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus lawesii)
In the year of 2011, 8 individuals were imported from Jakarta (4 of them died in the same year) and housed in the nocturnal part of the Indonesian jungle. As the construction of the Darwin crater was finished, they were moved there after a while. In 2022 a pup was born but died at the cause of an infection.

A picture of a new guinean short-beaked echidna in the Darwin crater by @twilighter

 

[czech_invertebrates]

MARSUPIALS:

PAST:

Gray short-tailed possum (Monodelphis domestica)
There is not much known about this species in Prague but what we know that they were kept here from 2001 to 2003, and they were probably housed in the house of small mammals.

Northern black-eared opossum (Didelphis marsupialis)
According to zootierliste this species was kept here at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Kowari (Dasyuroides byrnei)
This species was kept in the house of small mammals from 1992 to 2004 and it was breeding there but with the reconstruction, this australian species moved away.

Brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
This nocturnal mammal was kept in the zoo twice: first from 1969 to 1991 and then from 2004 to 2011. We dont know much about the first attempt but the second trio of possums were housed in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian jungle but they didnt reproduce and probably died of old age.

Short-tailed spotted cuscus (Spilocuscus maculatus)
As the northern black-eared opossum this was one of the earliest inhabitants of the zoo, but wasnt alive for long. the second attempt was made in 2001 probably in the Indonesian jungle, but this attempt failed.

Common wombat (Vombatus ursinus hirsutus)
This individual came to Prague by an exchange of animals with Tel Aviv Zoo in the 1950s. It is not known how long this individual lasted

Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)
This species was kept in sometime between from 1931 to 2001
PRESENT:


Sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps)
These small arboreal marsupials were first kept from 1999 to 2003 probably in the house of small mammals. Then from 2004 to 2008 probably in the Indonesian jungle. The final and most recent attempt was made in 2009 and was succesfull as they are now housed in the nocturnal part of the Indonesian jungle.

New guinean ground cuscus (Phalanger gymnotis leucippus)
One of the pioneers of keeping this species was Prague zoo. They kept this species from 2001 and it is housed in the nocturnal part of the Indonesian jungle

Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
In 2019, four tasmanian devils named Nutmeg, Sumac, Aniseed and Laurel came from Tasmani to Prague. Three females and one male. They are currently housed in the Darwin crater. In 2022 one male Sumac passed away due to circulatory pulmonary failure

@Baringogiraffe12

Tamanian wombat (Vombatus ursinus tasmaniensis)
In 2020 one male tasmanian wombat named Cooper arrived from Hannover. He was housed in Darwin Crater. In 2023 a female named Winkleigh arrived from Copenhagen in hopes of breeding them

@Fat-tailed dwarf lemur

Western woylie (Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi)
In 2001 one male from Dvůr Králové and two females from Olomouc arrived to Prague and were the founders of one of the most valuable line of western woylies. They are kept in the nocturnal part of the Indonesian jungle

@Mo Hassan

Long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus)
These small kangaroos are kept in Prague from 2020 to present. They are housed in the Darwin Crater with the new guinean short-beaked echidnas, wonga pigeons and blue faced honeyeaters.

@twilighter

Dorcopsis (Dorcopsis sp., hageni, muelleri)
The animals in Prague that were regarded as one species turned out to be three different species D. muelleri, D. hageni and D. sp. They are kept behind the scenes.

Tasmanian grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus tasmaniensis)
In 2020 two individuals of this subspecies were imported and are kept in Darwin crater

@Gil

Eastern wallaroo (Osphranter robustus robustus)
This species of kangaroo is kept from 2013 in the australian part of the northern part of the zoo

@Mo Hassan

Parma wallaby (Notamacropus parma)
This medium sized species of kangaroo once believed to be extinct is kept from 2008 and from 2020 it is housed in the Darwin crater.

Red Kangaroo (Osphranter rufus)
This large kangaroo is kept in Prague from 1994 and housed with swamp wallabies in the australian part of the northern part of the zoo

@Mo Hassan
Swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor)
This species is kept in Prague from 2012 and has bred many times

@vogelcommando

Tasmanian red-necked wallaby (Notamacropus rufogriseus fruticus)
This kangaroo is kept in the zoo from 2008 and from 2020 it is a part of the kangaroo walktrough exhbit in Darwin crater

 

[Fat-tailed dwarf lemur]

Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii)
In 2019, four tasmanian devils named Nutmeg, Sumac, Aniseed and Laurel came from Copenhagen to Prague. Three females and one male. They are currently housed in the Darwin crater. In 2022 one male Sumac passed away due to circulatory pulmonary failure

Just wanted to add Prague imported the devils from Tasmania and not from Denmark

 

[czech_invertebrates]

Just wanted to add Prague imported the devils from Tasmania and not from Denmark

Thank you for correcting me

 

[lintworm]

According to zootierliste this species was kept here from in 1931 and then again in 2001 which means that this was one of the earliest inhabitants of the zoo.

I know this source, it means the species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001, but not necessarily at the beginning or the end of that period.

 

[czech_invertebrates]

I know this source, it means the species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001, but not necessarily at the beginning or the end of that period.

its my first thread and first time using zootierliste so thank you for the correction

 

[lintworm]

its my first thread and first time using zootierliste so thank you for the correction

No problem, Zootierliste has its quirks and can be hard to interpret at times, though normally works very fine.

 

[Dassie rat]

MARSUPIALS PRESENT:


Dorcopsis (Dorcopsis sp., hageni, muelleri)
The animals in Prague that were regarded as one species turned out to be three different species D. muelleri, D. hageni and D. sp. They are kept behind the scenes.

Why do so many zoos keep heir rarities behind the scenes? There are ways to show sensitive species. At the very least, zoos could use CCTV cameras so visitors could see the animals

 

[czech_invertebrates]

XENARTHANS:

PAST:

Southern tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla)
It is not known in which year Prague received this species, all that is known is that it was housed in the house of small mammals.

Hoffmann's two-toed sloth (Choloepus hoffmannni)
Prague received this species in 1966. All that is known is that it was a female

Linnaneus' two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
This species was kept from 1949 to 2013.

Giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus)
This rare large species of armadillo was kept here for only a while because Prague was only a stop at a transit between Argentina and Moscow.

Large hairy armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus)
This species was kept in Prague from 2008 to 2009.

PRESENT:

Giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla)
This species was kept in the 1950s and 2000s with no success. The first successful breeding pair arrived in 2014 and in 2016 the first pup giant anteater in Prague was born.

@Chapman'szebra

Southern three-banded armadillo (Tolypeutes matacus)
The first successful breeding pair arrived from Ostrava in 2013. They were housed in the gorilla house (Today Méfou Center) with moustached tamarins, but in 2023 they were replaced with west african tree hyrax. The fate of the armadillos is unknown to me, according to ZTL, they were not moved anywhere.

 

[Green_mamba]

Thank you for taking the time to make this thread, it is very interesting.

 

[czech_invertebrates]

AFROTHERIA:

PAST:

Common rock hyrax (Procavia capensis)
This species was kept in Prague from 2000 to 2010 but the animals didn't breed.

Southern tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax arboreus)
In 2010 two males and two females were imported from Africa but two of the animals died, and the other two havent bred. They were kept behind the scenes.

Syrian rock hyrax (Procavia capensis syriacus)
This species was kept in the year 1966. It is unknown how long this species lasted in Prague

African forest elephant (Loxodonta cyclotis)
This species was represented in Prague by a single male individual named Jimbo, who was imported from Gabon in 1972 and passed away in 1976.

African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana)
This species was kept from 1971 to 1983. It was represented by a single female named Arba. They were kept in the house of big mammals (Today terrarium and reservation Bororo)


South African elephant (Loxodonta africana africana)
Keeping of this species began in 1954 with Petr I. After that two individuals were kept - one female, Sabi, and one male, Petr II. Sabi lived from 1969 to 1977, while Petr II. lived from 1970 to 2004. They were kept in the house of big mammals

Chequered sengi (Rhynchocyon cirnei)
According to ZTL Prague was the first zoo in Europe to keep this species(2009-2012).

Rufous sengi (Elephantulus rufescens)
Prague kept this species from 2014 to 2017. They were kept behind the scenes.

PRESENT:

Aardvark (Orycteropus afer)
Keeping of this species began in 1978, but successful breeding didn't occur until 2015. They reside in the African house alongside Kirk's dik-diks.

@Gil

South-East Asian elephant (Elephas maximus indicus)
Keeping of this species began with the arrival of one male Baby from Sri Lanka in 1933. He was kept in the first house for elephants, which is now known as Lemur Island.

Sri Lankan Elephant (Elephas maximus maximus)
The keeping of this species began with the arrival of two female elephants, Tamara and Janita, from Sri Lanka.

Hybrid Asian Elephant (E. m. maximus x E. m. indicus)
In 2016, the birth of Max and Rudi started the breeding of elephants in Prague. Max and Rudi's fathers were Mekong and Ankhor (E. m. indicus), while their mothers were Tamara and Janita (E. m. maximus). They are currently residing in the Valley of the Elephants.

@Gil

Black-and-rufous sengi (Rhynchocyon petersi)
Keeping of this species started in 2020 when Prague received one male from Rotterdam and one female from Wroclaw. This pair however didn't breed and died in 2022. Prague then received one male from Leipzig. This individual is housed in Africa up close.

@HOMIN96

Round-eared elephant shrew (Macroscelides proboscideus)
The species was first attempted to be bred in Prague in the 1990s but was unsuccessful. However, in 2021, the species was successfully bred in Africa up close.

@twilighter

West African tree hyrax (Dendrohyrax dorsalis sylvestris)
This species was received from Ostrava in 2023. It is housed in the Méfou center

Yellow-spotted rock hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei)
This species was probably kept in the 1980s. They are now housed in Africa up close

@vogelcommando

 

[czech_invertebrates]

Im going to skip rodents (for now) and focus on treeshrews and primates

 

[czech_invertebrates]

TREESHREWS AND STREPSIRHINNE PRIMATES

PAST:

Common treeshrew (Tupaia glis)
Not much is known about this species in Prague

Thick-tailed greater galago (Otolemur crassicaudatus)
This particular species was kept in two different periods - first in 1966 and then again in 2018.

Bioko squirrel galago (Sciurocheirus alleni)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Pygmy slow loris (Xanthonycticebus pygmaeus)
This species was probably kept from 1994 to 2008.

Northern dry zone slender loris (Loris lydekkerianus grandis)
This species was kept in Prague from 1995 to 2012.

Greater slow loris (Nycticebus coucang)
It was probably kept in the 1990s and probably housed in the house of small mammals.

Red slender loris (Loris tardigradus)
Not much is known about this species in Prague, except that it has been housed in the Indonesian jungle.

Red ruffed lemur (Varecia rubra)
This species was kept from 1999 to 2016.

Mongoose lemur (Eulemur mongoz)
Not much is known about this species' existence in Prague except that three individuals were received in 1973

Black lemur (Eulemur macao)
This species was first introduced in Prague in 2008 and later relocated to Duisburg and Magdeburg after successful breeding.

Black and white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata variegata)
The first and only attempt at breeding this species was made in 1999 but wasn't successful.

PRESENT:

Northern treeshrew (Tupaia belangeri)
This species first appeared in Prague in 2001 and was initially housed in the House of Small Mammals. Since 2004, they have been located in the Indonesian jungle and Africa up close.

@Gil

Garnett's greater galago (Otolemur garnettii)
The species breeding attempts started in 2007 but failed. The current attempt began in 2015 and the first successful birth occurred in 2019.

@Rhino00

Senegal bushbaby (Galago senegalensis)
The first attempt at breeding this species started in 1999 but was unsuccessful. The second attempt started in 2002 by housing a pair of galagos in the House of Small Mammals, which was then reconstructed to Africa up close. The first breeding occurred in 2004. As of now, the Prague Zoo holds the EEP of this species.

@robreintjes

Moholi bushbaby (Galago moholi)
The first attempt to keep this species was made in 1958, but unfortunately, the animals did not survive for long. The second attempt took place from 2011 to 2013 but was unsuccessful. The third and most recent attempt was undertaken in 2014 by a pair from Bronx and Frankfurt, and Prague currently holds the ESB for this species.

@Gil

Malayan slow loris (Nycticebus coucang)
Efforts to maintain this particular species were initiated in the 1950s and 1980s, but it was only during the third attempt in 1997 that some progress was achieved, with the birth of the first offspring in 2004. The species was discontinued at the zoo in 2022 but returned in 2023.

Ganzorhn`s mouse lemur (Microcebus ganzhorni)
This species is kept in Prague since the 1980s. They are housed in the nocturnal part of Africa up close.

Goodman's mouse lemur (Microcebus lehilahytsara)
This species is kept in Prague since the 1980s. They are housed in the nocturnal part of Africa up close.

White-belted black-and-white ruffed lemur (Varecia variegata subcinta)
This species is kept in Prague since 2004. It has bred there many times.

@Gil

White-fronted lemur (Eulemur albifrons)
The species was most likely introduced in the 1990s and kept on the Lemur island, but now they are found in Africa up close.

@Mo Hassan

Ring-tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
This species was initially kept in captivity in 1960, but it wasn't until the 1980s that the first breeding occurred. In 2008, a new group arrived in Prague and successfully bred many times. They are currently housed on Lemur Island.

@Gil

 

[Green_mamba]

The species was discontinued at the zoo in 2022 but returned in 2023.

So the original animals all died but they received more this year?

 

[czech_invertebrates]

So the original animals all died but they received more this year?

Probably

 

[czech_invertebrates]

PLATYRRHINI - NEW WORLD MONKEYS

PAST:

Spix's moustached tamarin (Saguinus mystax)
Initially, attempts to breed this species in the 1970s were unsuccessful. However, a second attempt was made in 2008 by introducing a pair from Zurich, followed by another pair in 2012. Finally, in 2017, the animals were successfully bred. During this time, they were kept in the old gorilla house (Méfou center) along with three-banded armadillos. The last pair was relocated to Jihlava in 2023.

@Michal Sloviak

Silvery marmoset (Mico argentatus)
Between 1931 and 2001, this species was kept in Prague, but little else is known.

Bearded emperor tamarin (Saguinus imperator subgrisescens)
This species was kept in 2020, but one animal died, and the others were moved to Plzen.

Golden-handed tamarin (Saguinus midas)
It was kept form 2003 to 2013 and housed in the old house of gorillas (Méfou centre) with Linnaneus' two-toed sloth.

@Katka789

Cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus)
This species was first kept in the 1990s but unsuccessfully. The second attempt was made in 2000 but in 2016 the animals probably died or were moved away.

White tufted-ear marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)
First attempt at keeping this species was made in 1939 but the animals lived only a year. The second was made in 1980 with a pair from Zurich but the animals didnt breed.

Golden-headed lion tamarin (Leontopithecus chrysomelas)
This species was kept from 1995 to 2012. Other than that not much is known.

Golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia)
Not much is known about this species except that it was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001

Callimico (Callimico goeldii)
This species was kept in the 1990s.

Southern Bolivian night monkey (Aotus azarae boliviensis)
This species was kept in the 1990s and 2000s. The last individual died in 2009

White-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons)
This species was first introduced in 1966. It is unknown how long this species lasted in Prague

Black-capped capuchin (Sapajus apella)
This species was kept in Prague from 1966 to 1999.

Red-faced black spider monkey (Ateles paniscus)
Not much is known about this species in Prague

Colombian brown spider monkey (Ateles hybridus)
This species was kept in the 1990s

Black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
We dont know for how long Prague had this species all we know that the last indiviual died in 2016. They were kept behind the scenes.

Colombian black spider monkey (Ateles fusciceps rufiventris)
This species was kept in the 1990s.

PRESENT:

Common squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus)
The species' first attempt at breeding was made in 1990, but it was unsuccessful. In 2005, two pairs were kept, and in 2006 the first successful breeding occurred.

@Jana

Mexican spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi vellerosus)
This species has been in Prague since 2005. The first successful breeding occurred in 2007, and they are currently housed in the Water World and Monkey Islands.

@Jakub

 

[czech_invertebrates]

CATARRHINI - OLD WORLD MONKEYS AND APES

PAST:

Blue monkey (Cercopithecus mitis)
This species was probably kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Diana monkey (Cercopithecus diana)
This species was probably kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Green monkey (Chlorocebus sabaeus)
This species was probably kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Grivet (Chlorocebus aethiops)
This species was probably kept in the 1930s.

Moustached monkey (Cercopithecus cephus
This species was probably kept in the 1960s. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Patas monkey (Erythrocebus patas)
The first attempt at keeping this species happened at some point between 1931 and 2001. The second attempt was made in 2020, but in the same year, the animals were moved to Hluboká nad Vltavou (Ohrada).

Roloway monkey (Cercopithecus roloway)
We do not know in which year the zoo received this species, but they were moved away in 1967 to Duisburg. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Southern talapoin (Miopithecus talapoin)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Phayre's langur (Trachypithecus phayeri)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

East Javan langur (Trachypithecus auratus)
Not much is known about this species in Prague except that it has been moved from Apenheul and for a while was housed in the Indonesian jungle.

Agile mangabey
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Black-crested mangabey
Not much is known about this species in Prague.

Collared mangabey (Cercocebus torquatus)
This species was kept in the 1950s and 1960s. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Golden-bellied mangabey (Cercocebus chrysogaster)
It was kept from 1987 to 1994. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Drill (Mandrillus leucophaeus)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Mandrill (Mandrillus sphinx)
It was kept at some point between 1931 to 2001.

Gelada (Theropithecus gelada)
This species was kept from 1954 to 1962. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Hamadryas baboon (Papio hamadryas)
This species was probably kept in the 1960s.

Olive baboon (Papio anubis)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Yellow baboon (Papio cynocephalus)
Not much is known about this species in Prague.

Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata)
This species was kept at some point between 1931 and 2001.

Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta)
This species was kept from 1931 it is not known how long they were in the zoo.

Tibetan macaque (Macaca thibetana)
This species was received in 1952 in an exchange with Beijing. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Lar (Hylobates lar)
The first attempt at keeping this species was made in 1961 the animals lived all the way to 1999 but didn't breed. The second attempt was made in 2004 and the animals were housed in the Indonesian jungle.

@Jana

Pileated gibbon (Hylobates pileatus)
This species was kept from 1966 to 1973. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus)
This species was imported in 1969 but in 1972 they were moved to Dresden. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Western hoolock gibbon (Hoolock hoolock)
It is not known in which year the keeping started but the animals died or were moved away in 1956. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
This species was received in 1974 from Rostock but the animal died in 1975. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Hybrid orangutan (P. pygmaeus x P. abelii)
This female individual was received in 1975 but in 1997 the animal was moved to Hodonín. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

Central common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes troglodytes)
Not much is known about this species.

Common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes)
This species was kept from 1950 to 1999. It was probably housed in the old monkey house.

PRESENT:

De Brazza's monkey (Cercopithecus neglectus)
This species has been kept in Prague since 2022. The first breeding occurred in 2023. They are housed in the Dja reserve.

@robreintjes

Northern talapoin monkey (Miopithecus ogouensis)
This species has been kept in Prague since 1960 in the old monkey house but the animals didn't breed. In 2006 the second attempt began with the first breeding in 2008. It has been housed in Africa up close but now it's been rehoused to Dja reserve.

@Gil

Mantled colobus (Colobus guereza)
This species has been kept in Prague since 2008. It has been housed in the Water world and monkey islands. In 2022 it has been rehoused to the Dja reserve.

@vogelcommando

Sunda pig-tailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina)
The individuals from Prague came from the closed safari park in Gänsendorf. This species has been kept in Prague since 2004. It's housed in the Indonesian jungle.

@Mo Hassan

Barbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus)
First, this species was kept in the 1930s but didn't breed. There were many attempts in the next years but they also failed. The first breeding happened in 2000. They are housed in the rock outcrop.

@Robaque

Moloch gibbon (Hylobates moloch)
The first attempt at keeping this species was made in the 1950s but failed. The second attempt was made in 2014. The animals were first bred in 2015. They are housed in the Water world and the monkey islands.

@Rhino00

Western lowland gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)
The first attempt at keeping this species was made in 1963 the animals lived all the way to 1999 but didn't breed. The second attempt was made in 2001. They were first housed in the gorilla house (Today Méfou centre) and in 2022 part of the family was rehoused in Dja reserve. The first breeding was achieved in 2004.

@twilighter

Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii)
The first attempt at breeding this species was made in 1961 and ten years later the first orangutan in Czech zoos was born. In 1999 with the demolition of the old monkey house, the orangutans were moved to Hodonín. In 2004 with the construction of the Indonesian jungle, the orangutans returned to Prague.

@OrangePerson

 

[czech_invertebrates]

For now I'm going to focus on the smaller orders such as insectivores, pangolins, and odd-toed ungulates before moving on to the bigger orders such as carnivores, even-toed ungulates, and then the biggest order: rodents

 

[PossumRoach]

In this presentation by the curator of mammals, there were pictures of woolly monkeys/Lagothrix starting from 20:50 (I cannot timestamp bc I am on mobile) did Prague keep the species or was it a temporary holding?

 

[czech_invertebrates]

In this presentation by the curator of mammals, there were pictures of woolly monkeys/Lagothrix starting from 20:50 (I cannot timestamp bc I am on mobile) did Prague keep the species or was it a temporary holding?

I don't know but the curator says that there is a possibility that they are not from Prague at all