The magnificent celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the Prague Zoo will be held in the spirit of the First Republic
Visitors can look forward to the launch of a book mapping the history of the zoo called the Zoo for the Capital, a presentation of the board game In the Footsteps of the Prague Zoo and special Trojan tolars issued by the State Printing House of Valuables. Every visitor who comes on the day of the celebration will come to the Prague Zoo in a costume in the style of the 1930s, and will receive a small gift at the entrance.
“This year we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Prague Zoo. More precisely, since the opening of its construction site – which does not change the fact that it was then that the first visitors passed through its gates. After decades of debate, disputes and preparations, our capital has finally reached its zoo, “said Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague Zoo. “This event is mainly associated with the name of the first director, Professor Jiří Janda. Rightly. He dedicated a large part of his life and immense efforts to the establishment and building of the Prague Zoo, ”continues the head of the garden.
The Prague Zoo will show visitors how it has changed in the nine decades of its existence, and throughout the day of celebrations, the Troja complex will return to the style of the 1930s. There are also historic motorcycles with mobile advertising at the time, a flute player in a period costume, swing dance workshops, a hairdressing salon, a themed photo corner and another accompanying program.
“The zoo is an extremely complex organism and has not worked not only without breeders, curators or veterinarians, but also without maintenance workers and cashiers, cooks and cleaners and other professions. And so I would now like to express my gratitude to all those who worked for the Prague Zoo with dedication, honesty and loyalty in the past – no matter what position – as well as those who work for it today, “added Bobek, which runs the city institution since 2010.
The limited editions of the Trojan tolars, valuable prints made for the jubilee, depict popular animal inhabitants of the Prague Zoo – the Indian elephant, the South African sea lion and the lowland gorilla.
“The motif of Troja Castle on the back of our new ‘banknotes’ reminds us, among other things, that its last private owner, the landowner Alois Svoboda, donated land with him to the Czechoslovak state, on which the Prague Zoo was later established,” Miroslav Bobek reminded the historical context of the Zoo. Prague.
The Trojan tolars will be presented to the public for the first time as part of Tuesday’s celebrations. From this day on, they will be available for purchase on the e-shop of the State Printing House of Securities. Proceeds from the sale will go completely to the protection of endangered species in the places of their natural occurrence.
“We used standard security features on ‘banknotes’ for the Prague Zoo, which you can find on other real banknotes. These are elements that are visible to the naked eye or elements visible only under UV light. Of course, each commemorative list will also be provided with a unique number and other secret anti-counterfeiting elements, “said Tomáš Hebelka, director of the State Printing House of Securities.
Program of the celebrations of the 90th anniversary of the opening of the Prague Zoo on September 28:
10.00 – 10.45 Swing dance performance and workshop at the Education Center
10.45 – 11.00 Procession from the Education Center to the Archa Theater together with members of the Chůdadlo association in period costumes
11.00 – 12.00 Live broadcast of the Czech Toboggan show Dvojka from the Archa Theater
13.00 Celebration of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Prague Zoo and the launch of the book Zoo for the Capital – guests come in period cars to the Education Center, the author of the book, Mrs. Hana Heráňová, will also take part in the christening
14.00 Baptism of the board game In the footsteps of the Prague Zoo – the game will be christened by a male South African sea lion Melon and a competition for several board games is prepared for visitors
15.00 Presentation of the Trojan tolar published by the State Printing House of Valuables in the Valley of the Elephants – part of the presentation of all types of Trojan tolars will be the handing over of a special enrichment of the elephant group
15.15 – 15.35 Swing dance workshop at the Education Center