Prague Zoo

The new Zoo chairlift opened 1977

Komodo dragon with keeper in Prague Zoo. Prague Zoo is leading breeder of Komodo dragons in captivity.

Prague Zoo is a zoo in Prague, Czech Republic. It was opened 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. In 2012, the zoo occupied 58 hectares (143 acres) and housed about 4,800 animals that represented more than 690 species, including 133 species listed as critically endangered.^[5]

Prague Zoological Garden has contributed significantly to saving Przewalski's horse. For many years, it was the biggest breeder of the species in the world. In 2007, Forbes Traveler Magazine listed Prague Zoo as the seventh best Zoo in the world;^[6] in 2014, TripAdvisor listed it as the seventh best zoo in the world according to the reviews of its users in the last twelve months.^[7]

History

New giraffe exposition

Giraffes' stable in 2010

• 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 28 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.
• 1971 Opened a new pavilion for large mammals (elephants, hippos and rhinos).
• 1977 A new chairlift was opened.
• 1991 Largest cat species pavilion was introduced.
• 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.
• 2004 Czech largest and most expensive animal pavilion "Indonesian Jungle" has been opened, first Western gorilla was born in Czech republic (named Moya).
• 2007 First breeding of Komodo dragon in Prague Zoo.^[8] Forbes Traveler listed Prague Zoo among the world's best zoos.^[6]
• 2008 Gharials are bred here for the first time in Europe.
• 2009 A new exhibition for fur seals with a larger swimming pool and a grandstand was opened.
• 2010 Multiplication of Texas turtles for the first time in Europe
• 2011 Moja driven to Cabarceno. The first Czech transport of four Przewalski’s horses into the wild in Mongolia.
• 2012 Historically most pups were born - 1,557 in 211 species. This includes the world’s first breeding of the crowned river turtle and the rufous-cheeked laughingthrush, as well as Prague Zoo’s first breeding of the red panda.
• 2013 A large new Elephant Valley pavilion was introduced and first elephant was born in Prague Zoo (named Sita).^[9] Zoo was in June flooded for the second time, however thanks to timely evacuation there was not a larger loss of animals.
• 2014 A large pavilion for 33 critically endangered Chinese giant salamanders including three adult, was introduced. The main attraction is the largest specimen in Europe.^[10]

Gallery

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  Fur seal's exposition

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  Africa closely

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  Prague polar bear

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  Prague sumatran tiger

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  Prague gorilla.

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  Radegast sculpture in Prague Zoo

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  A small zoo tram

Notes

External links

• Official website

Media related to Prague Zoo at Wikimedia Commons