Prague Zoo

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The main entrance on a Saturday morning.

Prague Zoo is a zoo in Prague, Czech Republic. It was founded in 1931 with the goal to "advance the study of zoology, protect wildlife, and educate the public" in the district of Troja in the north of Prague. The zoo occupies 45 hectares (111 acres) and houses about 4,600 animals that represent 630 species from all around the world. Prague Zoological Garden has contributed significantly to saving the Przewalski horse. For many years it was the biggest breeder of the species in the world. In 2008 Forbes Traveler Magazine listed Prague ZOO as the 7th best in the world.

Enclosure with african ungulates at Prague Zoo

[edit] Brief history

1881 The Idea - On the occasion of the marriage of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and Princess Stéphanie of Belgium, an appeal to establish a zoological garden in Prague was published in the newspapers by count Sweerts-Spork.
1919 At the meeting of the advisory board for mathematics and natural sciences at the Ministry of education and national enlightenment, a committee was established to start the preparatory work on the establishment of the Prague zoological garden.
1931 The Opening - On 28th September “The building site of the zoological garden” was opened for the public and in the sunny afternoon the first visitors entered the gate.
1938 The first young Andean vulture in the world was hatched and reared.
1942 The first polar bear cub was artificially bred in the world (a female named Ilun).
1959 Dr. Zdeněk Veselovský was appointed the director of the zoo. Under his leadership, the Prague zoo reached some world class successes in the area of breeding and scientific research.
2001 The first artificial breeding of a Przewalski's Horse in the world.
2002 Prague suffered the worst floods in its history. A large part of the zoo was under water and many animals died. The zoo soon recovered..
2008 ForbesTraveler.com listed Prague ZOO as the 7th best in the world.