Before the opening of the Reservation Dja
The impetus to start preparing and promoting this project was the floods that flooded the lower part of the Prague Zoo grounds in June 2013. In the summer of the same year, I picked a place where the pavilion could stand. It had to meet two main conditions – to have a favorable microclimate and to enable a sufficiently large building and paddocks. This corresponded to the overgrown terrain depression below Sklenářka, at the end of the giraffe enclosure.
And then the real martyrdom began. Even though we commissioned expert studies, from which it was clear that the new pavilion would not disturb the landscape character of the Trojská kotlina or degrade the distant views, we had to wage a protracted battle to refute all objections against its construction. After all the delays, we finally started building in October 2019.
We designed the new pavilion to give visitors the experience of a trip through Cameroon. After all, we named it the Dja Reserve after the area where in Cameroon we participate in the protection of lowland gorillas and nature in general. Its construction was not easy, it is always a completely atypical and in many ways innovative complex… In addition, the covid pandemic made our situation even more complicated. But this year in April, the desired approval was granted and we could start finishing work and settling the animal pavilion. Only the last two residents are missing – male gorilla Kisumu and Moja’s daughter Duni.
The pavilion is still being worked on, but a few people have already seen it. British zoo expert and evaluator Anthony Sheridan even went through it twice. After his present visit he wrote to me:
“Congratulations on a truly magnificent gorilla pavilion – it’s the best I’ve ever seen in terms of a truly immersive experience for visitors. The connection of the pavilion with the Dja reserve in Cameroon has been very good for years and the exhibition has an immense benefit in informing visitors about the conservation of animals in their habitat. Notable features of the indoor exhibit include special multi-layered glass windows that keep the gorillas from being disturbed by visitor noises that the visiting gorillas can hear! Another great feature is the sounds of the forest. I believe this groundbreaking pavilion will generate interest and help zoos looking to invest in new and improved gorilla and other primate breeding facilities.”
Let’s hope so… Of course we are anxious to hear what you, the visitor, have to say about the Dja Reserve. I hope you like it at least half as much as Anthony did.
Written for MF Dnes