Hlubuček (STAN): Prague Zoo will open a new Gorilla Pavilion in September
These include, in particular, Rákos Pavilion, opened in 2019, Darwin Crater, which opened to the public a year later and the new Gorilla Pavilion has now been completed. They will look at it for the first time on September 28 this year. In the advanced phase of administrative preparations, the largest project is the Arctic exhibition, where polar bears in particular will find their new home.
“We have invested over 500 million crowns in the main investment projects of the Prague Zoo alone in recent years. I am very happy about that, not only because the Prague Garden has a great rating and is one of the European and world leaders. It is a great attraction for both Czech and foreign tourists, every year visitors will find something new. This year’s hit of the season will undoubtedly be the new Gorilla Pavilion, which we are opening on September 28. The whole pavilion is inspired as a journey through Cameroon from the edge of the forest to the heart itself, the whole gorilla family group will move to it. The investment cost 300 million crowns, it is the largest complex in the entire zoo, which also fits into the adjacent landscape with its green roof, “says the deputy mayor of the capital. m of Prague for the environment Petr Hlubuček.
The Prague Zoo has currently taken over a new gorilla pavilion from the contractor, which is located in the northern part of the complex. At the same time, a final inspection of the building was carried out, on the basis of which a building permit was issued on April 7, 2022. The last modifications and finishing works are now continuing and its new inhabitants will gradually begin to move into the pavilion. It will be inaugurated to visitors on September 28, 2022.
“The new pavilion occupies a much larger area than the existing one,” says Miroslav Bobek, director of the Prague Zoo. “It will have great conditions for a family group of gorillas and also for other inhabitants, such as vertebrates, guerrillas or brushes. The visitor areas are also larger and at the same time I will introduce the environment that gorillas inhabit in Central Africa to all visitors, but they are also approaching the issue of their protection. The building of the new pavilion was designed and placed so that it blends in with the terrain as much as possible, so that it does not disturb the landscape of the Troja Basin. ”
The cost of building a new gorilla pavilion is over 300 million crowns, and this amount includes, among other things, the construction of a new entrance or footbridge. The capital, as the founder of the Prague Zoo, released 222 million crowns for the construction, over seventeen thousand voluntary donors also sent 31 million crowns, the rest of the costs are covered by the zoo’s investment fund.
Today, the polar bear is a traditionally bred and extremely attractive species for the public. However, its current exhibition dates from the 1930s and is unsatisfactory. Therefore, a locality in the northwestern tip of the area, where microclimatic conditions are suitable, was chosen for the new exposure of Arctic animals.
Polar bears will have two large exhibition enclosures, each with two saltwater pools. The background will consist of a parking lot, as well as structurally separate dormitories, enabling the female to create the peace necessary for the successful rearing of young. Visitors will be served stylish snacks focused on sea fish specialties and there will also be toilets. The project of the Arctic exposition is currently before obtaining a building permit, the estimated construction costs are 500 million crowns.
“The newly planned Arctic Pavilion is about to get a building permit, I believe we will be able to bring the whole project to a successful conclusion. Polar bears will have a great base here with exhibition enclosures with salt water pools. The situation will be at the tip, where there are microclimatic conditions in the northwest, “adds Deputy Mayor Petr Hlubuček.
Prague Zoo in cooperation with the City Hall m of Prague is also preparing the revitalization of the forest steppe in Dolní Počernice for bison breeding. The existing breeding herd is located on the plains at the top of the Troja Zoo, where it borders the bison enclosure. However, in accordance with the general development of the Prague Zoo, this part of the area will be intended for other animal species in the future. Breeding facilities for bison outside the zoo will enable this to be maintained for the inhabitants and the bred species of Prague for a long time.
In the locality of Dolní Počernice, it will be necessary to build a fence and facilities for breeding, which will consist of a hayloft, breeding facilities, automatic watering hole, pond, simple shelter and handling / quarantine paddock separate from the main paddock. Several simple fences will be built inside the enclosure to protect valuable groups of trees, or valuable solitaires will be individually protected. In winter or, if necessary, during the year, the animals will be fed so that the pressure of the teeth on the environment in the breeding enclosure does not exceed a tolerable level. The estimated cost of this project is 16 million crowns.
The plan for the coming years is also building new quarters and paddocks for Převalský’s horses, the heraldic animals of the Prague Zoo. She maintains their studbook, coordinates the European Breeding Program (EEP) and has long cared for their reintroduction into their original homeland, the Mongolian steppes. The new facility should cost a total of 78 million crowns.
On the contrary, Rákos’ pavilion, which represents mainly a collection of exotic birds, is one of the already functioning major projects in recent years. It was opened in 2019 and is named after the important parrot breeder Stanislav Rákos (1931–2012), who contributed financially to the construction of this single exhibition. Originally, it was planned to breed about 30 species of birds, in the end, even 38 species were visible at the opening of the exhibition.
Since 2020, Darwin Crater, an exhibition of Tasmanian and Australian fauna at the Prague Zoo, has also attracted a great deal of interest from visitors. It represents more than two dozen species of animals, the most important of which are endangered bear devils – also referred to as “Tasmanian devils”. Prague Zoo is only the second in Europe to obtain these largest predatory marsupials directly from Tasmania.
However, other parts of this exhibition are undoubtedly attractive, especially the passage of kangaroos. Visitors can also see ovate hedgehogs, two interesting species of Australian snakes and more than ten bird species.
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author: PV