Zoo Brno ZOO Brno

Brno looks like locked in time, while the top 5 Czech zoos continues to develop.

Yap, exactly this. The city itself is rather rich and ready to fund investments, the zoo has large acreage, the whole region´s economy goes up and has enough population to support a major progressive zoo. It all goes back to mis-management of the zoo during past 3 decades.
 
I am looking forward to return at the later, but not so much at the former. Brno looks like locked in time, while the top 5 Czech zoos continues to develop.
Is it really so?
I visited Brno once, many years ago, so have no recent personal experience, but there was some noteworthy development in last two decades, I think: tigers, Beringia with wolves, brown bears and wolverines, kangaroo exhibit, african village and lions, chimpanzee house (though this reconstruction seems quite weird to me...)
Of course, there are probably staying some problematic or bad parts (polar bears for example*), and as a whole, it isn ´t comparable to Zlin or Prague, but I wouldn´t use term "locked in time" (but then again, I don´t have personal experience)

* probably terrible in esthetical sense, but from the point of animal husbandry?
 
Conservation Database Snapshot of December: protection of Eurasian hoopoe

The Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa epops) is a charismatic and well-known bird, positively perceived by the public. It is also an umbrella species: it shares the habitat with many other animal and plant species that will benefit from its protection. Despite being classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List, the Eurasian hoopoe is threatened in some countries, for example it is rare in the Czechia.

There, since 2017, Brno Zoo has been coordinating and promoting a project to support the local hoopoe population, with the help of ČSOP Morava Czech Association and other partners.

CONSERVATION » EAZA
 
In year 2017, the resident pair of lions Lolek and Kivu gave birth to a litter of two cubs (1,1). The young female Anoona has been now sent to Zoo Chorzow/Poland. Future place for the young male Akashinga is still under discussion.

Hi.
I'm trying to build a katanga lion database. Is Lolek and Kivu still the only two lions at Brno? Anyone have their dates and places of birth?
 
The oldest giraffe in Brno had to be euthanised. A cow called Janette. She was born in 2001 in Dvur Kralove and lived in Brno since 2003.

Brno´s herd curently consists of 0.3 reticulated giraffes. The EEP has recommended a new bull from the UK a few years back. His transfer was first halted due to covid restrictions and now Brexit is making the import unnecessary difficult. The zoo still hopes to bring him in this or next year.

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We (Chorzow/Katowice) got the bull (reticulated giraffes) last april from Gdansk (they have a male group). We also had single 3 ladies. Looks like things worked out. I think (nothing confirmed) at least 2 of them are pregnant. Fingers crossed for Brno!
 
We (Chorzow/Katowice) got the bull (reticulated giraffes) last april from Gdansk (they have a male group). We also had single 3 ladies. Looks like things worked out. I think (nothing confirmed) at least 2 of them are pregnant. Fingers crossed for Brno!

Did you seriously just compare transport within the country with transport requiring getting animal from a "third country" (sorry UK friendos, that is how you defined by law now) to the EU and requiring overseas transport? o_O
 
No. I compared two Zoos (close to each other) which had reticulated giraffes cows that needed a bull in similar time. Chorzow got one from Gdansk which was much easier of course. And my point was to ask why not get one from Gdansk (or any place else closer) than UK?

ps. Just checked. Gdansk still have 3 bulls (Wiechu - 16 years old, Aki - 12 years old, Gienek - 9 years old). The one Chorzow got is Iroko - 11 years old. Based on the wiki giraffes bulls start reproducing after being 10 years old.
 
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And my point was to ask why not get one from Gdansk (or any place else closer) than UK?

Coordinator of giraffe EPP has decided that best bull for Brno herd is from the UK. And Brno is trying to fulfill this recommendation. If it will prove to be too dificult and costly, it might ask the coordinator to change his decision and find another bull nearby.

Reticulated giraffe EEP must be careful about proposed pairings because genetic makeup of the population is not ideal. First, number of imported animals that have surviving descendants today is not that high. Second, it´s impossible to import new unrelated animals from outside Europe. Third, holding capacity in Europe is close to full and number of calves must be strictly regulated. Fourth, in not so distant part, most breeding was happening in just handfull of zoos and they tended to keep the same bull for decade or more and this led to close relatedness of too many animals.

To find a bull least related to all cows in herd is an alchemy. In this particular case, brexit cut some valuable animals from continental gene pool. Hopefully they will solve it.

PS. Giraffe bulls get adult in their third year even if they still have not reached their final height. The youngest bull I know impregnated a cow close to its second birthsday.
 
The pair of Javan ferret-badgers (Melogale orientalis) have moved off-show due to a mouse problem. This species, along with the other animals kept at the restaurant, are no longer visible to the public from now on. They will be placed in a different enclosure somewhere else in the park in the future, but will not be placed back in their former one.
 
The last northern fur seal has died recently. His exhibit is empty. The zoo doesnt plan to keep any seals in future. Future of the exhibit is open, might stay emtry for years.

On weekend, the zoo saw a police operation. A woman under drugs climbed lemur house and running on its roof was shouting nonsense.

Among youngsters born this spring are two Madagascar spider tortoises, a greater vasa parrot, great horner owl, long-nosed potoroo.
 
The oldest giraffe in Brno had to be euthanised. A cow called Janette. She was born in 2001 in Dvur Kralove and lived in Brno since 2003.

Brno´s herd curently consists of 0.3 reticulated giraffes. The EEP has recommended a new bull from the UK a few years back. His transfer was first halted due to covid restrictions and now Brexit is making the import unnecessary difficult. The zoo still hopes to bring him in this or next year.

Article

At the end of July the male named Khari (*26-04-2019) arrived from Zoo Whipsnade.

Source:
Instagram of Zoo Brno (28/07/2023)
 
Last weekend, the corsac fox cage has been open again for visitors. It underwent 3-months of repairs (new mesh etc.), but honestly I can´t see any real improvement for animals or visitors from the earlier iteration.
Picture

The polar bear enclosure is currently off-show. Hillside terrain above a visitors path has become unstable and prone to collapse so the path had to be closed. This might be complication or full closure for years I ´m affaid.
 
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