World Shellfish Day at the Prague Zoo
The third Saturday in February is World Nutcracker Day, the purpose of which is to draw attention to the importance of protecting these unique creatures. It is currently the most illegally smuggled animal in the world. Prague Zoo draws attention to their threat with a rich program for the public.
ATTENTION CHANGE! On Saturday, February 19, the zoo is closed due to strong winds. We will inform you about any alternative date of the event.
“These unique scaly mammals curl up in a ball in case of danger and thus remain completely defenseless against humans. In Africa, they are hunted mainly for their meat, and in Asia there is also a great demand for their scales, which are used in traditional Chinese medicine. That is why these scales are also smuggled in large quantities from Africa to Asia.” the threat of the threat of the second director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek.
Shellfish are an evolutionarily unique, ancient group of toothless carnivorous mammals that specialize in eating ants and termites. They are unmistakable due to their cone-like appearance – as the only mammal on the planet, their bodies are also covered in scales, which, like the claws of other animals, are made of keratin.
They live in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, and are massively hunted on both continents. Especially in Asia, their scale preparations are used to help with skin diseases, problems with fertility or blood circulation. The biggest markets are China and Vietnam. After overfishing decimated the populations of Asian nutcrackers, the focus of the illegal trade shifted to African species as well. As a result, all eight species of nutmegs are included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in the category threatened with extinction, two even as critically endangered.
“Although World Nutcracker Day raises awareness of their threats, conservation progress is still too slow. At the Prague Zoo, we are therefore trying to help protect the pod in various ways in several countries. In Cameroon, we support the guardians of protected areas as part of the Stray Bus project, we try to limit hunting by educating and educating the local population. In Laos and Sumatra, we financially participate in the construction and running of rescue stations for pods seized from poachers,” presents projects for the protection of Bobek nutcrackers.
Program for Saturday, February 19:
- A mysterious creature covered in scales – a mammal or a reptile?
- How many species of nutmeg do we know and how do they differ from each other?
- From Africa or Asia?
- A creative workshop for the little ones, or imagination knows no bounds
- The issue of bushmeat or what really doesn’t belong on the plate
- Ethnozoological research
- The Prague Zoo is helping, or get to know the projects for the protection of nutcrackers
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the terrace and inside the Education Center near the main entrance to the campus.
You won’t be bored with us during the holidays. Come to the autumn-colored zoo, for example, for a pumpkin feast, guided encounters with animals, a tour of the new gorilla pavilion, to the zoo, or just to take a walk and soak up the scent of summer.
On Friday, October 21, the traditional celebration of the Indian festival of lights, Diwali, takes place at the Prague Zoo. From 18.00, visitors will be able to join the lantern procession to the darkened zoo. It will end with a light show in Údolí slonů at around 18.45,…