Prague Zoo – history, photo, description, opening hours, how to get there, prices 2021, map
A large number of tourists admire the historical districts, where monumental palaces and cathedrals of the medieval period rise. In addition to impressive architectural ensembles, one of the largest European zoos is located in the capital of the Czech Republic. The Prague Zoo is a vast park area that recreates the natural habitat for animals. Among the fragrant plants and bulky stones, lions, elephants, peacocks roam, giraffes graze on the lawns, monkeys jump on the vines and lemurs climb, a polar polar bear swims majestically in a special pool. This is only a small part of what can be seen in the zoo.
Story
Since time immemorial, the idea of creating the Prague Zoo has been in the air. Most of the Czech kings were involved in the breeding of animals within their fiefdom. These were small nurseries, equipped solely to satisfy the whims of the monarchs. The history of the Prague Zoo began in 1881, when the son of the Emperor of Austria-Hungary Franz Joseph, Crown Prince Rudolf married Princess Stephanie of Belgium. A luxurious wedding was played with a large number of guests and gifts.
On the occasion of the marriage, the noble Czech Count Spork proposed to high society a simple but difficult to implement idea – to arrange the first zoological garden in Prague. The problem was that for the execution of such a project, a suitable territory was required. However, the count's initiative remained only on paper. As a result, his idea will be taken as the basis for the arrangement of the future reserve at the beginning of the 20th century.
In 1922, Alois Svoboda, a large landowner and philanthropist, granted the capital's municipality his possessions on the banks of the Vltava in the Troja region of Prague for the construction of an acclimatization park. The picturesque area, surrounded by a fence, began to be ennobled and equipped with enclosures for predators. Also began to build administrative buildings. The project developer and the first director of the zoo was Professor Jiří Janda, a naturalist. The official opening of the reserve took place in 1931.
After the opening of the reserve, its first resident appeared in the park – the lioness Sharka, donated by the Austrian circus Rebernigg. Then the she-wolf Lotta and Przewalski's horses, whose zoological species was on the verge of extinction, joined the predator. The fauna of the park was gradually replenished with various representatives of the animal world. A tiger, an elephant, sea lions, a hippopotamus, monkeys, a giraffe and a cheetah appeared.
In the middle of the 20th century, the Prague Zoo was granted state status under the patronage of the Ministry of Information and Education of the Czech Republic. The escalating budget has fueled new enclosures that mimic wildlife for animals, birds, reptiles and fish. The institution is making significant progress in breeding animals. There is an increase in the number of many species of mammals.
The most difficult time for the zoo came in 2002. Due to heavy rainfall, the level of the Vltava River has risen by seven meters. Most of the zoo was flooded. The staff of the reserve failed to organize the evacuation of the animals in time. Most of the animals became victims of the raging elements. After the tragic events, local authorities and the administration of the institution took all necessary measures for the safe stay of animals in the park. In 2015, the Prague Zoo ranked fourth in the world ranking of the best nurseries. More than one million people visit the park every year.
Description
The wooded area of the Prague Zoo covers an area of 60 hectares. The total length of well-groomed paths that lead to the pavilions is 10 kilometers. More than 5 thousand animals live here, most of which are listed in the Red Book. Animals in the Prague Zoo are not isolated by classical bars. Open enclosures are equipped with wooden partitions, and glass barriers are installed for predatory animals. At the entrance to the zoological garden, visitors can familiarize themselves with a map of the area, which shows in detail the areas of residence of various species of wild animals.
The Prague Zoo consists of two levels connected by a cable car. Funiculars and mini-wagons plowing through the vast area of the reserve can comfortably deliver tourists to the habitats of animals. In order to better view the animals, viewing bridges are provided, located above the pavilions. On the territory of the institution there are cafes, souvenir shops, playgrounds with attractions. There is even a small Buddhist temple in the park, decorated with sculptures, as well as an observation tower, which offers a picturesque view of the entire area.
Pavilions
The territory of the complex is divided into thematic zones where animals live in natural conditions. Visitors to the park are literally surrounded by wildlife. These are tropical forests, the African savannah, deserts, plains, arctic belts and other parts of the world. One of the most visited pavilions is the Indonesian jungle. This is a grandiose structure where monkeys, gibbons, monitor lizards, birds, turtles and fish live among tropical trees, lianas, artificial rocks, waterfalls and aquariums. About 1,000 animals live in this two-story building with a huge greenhouse.
Large aviary for small colorful birds. They flutter over the heads of visitors. They sit on the branches of bushes and, as if, pose in front of camera lenses. In a large area, surrounded by boulders, thickets and logs, giraffes with long six-meter necks graze, kangaroos jump, ostriches nibble grass. A herd of Indian elephants walks with pleasure along the winding paths of their range. A hippo splashes in an artificial pond, and zebras are visible nearby.
Pleasant memories will be left by the cat pavilion, which is one of the achievements of the zoo. Leopards, tigers and lions gracefully frolic on the lawns. The process of feeding predators is especially interesting. At the sight of raw meat, the animals jump, growl and show their sharp fangs. Prague Zoo is famous for the preservation of Przewalski's horses. Unique ungulates can no longer be found in the wild. The employees of the institution managed to successfully implement the project of breeding these rare animals, which deserves special respect. The reserve is also home to naturally vulnerable animals – red pandas and the Malayan tapir.
Behind a transparent fence is an outdoor pool with stone islands and a rocky shore. Here, penguins demonstrate their swimming abilities. Diving into the water, they seem to fly. It is interesting to observe the carefree life of the gorilla family. In summer they live in an open enclosure, and in winter they move to a spacious warm room. Primates have a lot of toy balls, ropes, stumps and branches. In the zoo, gorillas actively breed.
The Prague Zoo is so diverse and large that it will take at least 5 hours to see all the enclosures. In the cold water of a glass pool, a polar bear swims tirelessly on its back. Pavilions imitating coniferous forests are inhabited by elk and deer. The lake and swamp areas of the complex are home to flamingos, tapirs and antelopes. The terrarium is represented by the largest snakes in the world – anacondas.
Opening hours and ticket prices
The Prague Zoo is open daily throughout the year. The opening hours of the reserve depend on the season – from 9:00 to 19:00 (June-August), to 18:00 (September, October, April, May), to 17:00 (November-February). The price of an adult ticket is 120 kroons, a child ticket is 150 kroons.
Where is it located and how to get there
The zoo is located away from the city center in a wooded area – Troy Castle. You can get to the place by public transport. Using the metro services, you should get to the Nádraží Holešovice station (line “C”), and then transfer to bus number 112, which will take you to the zoo (Zoologická zahrada stop). The whole journey from Wenceslas Square will take about one hour. Also, a steamboat departs from the Rašínovo embankment to the Prague Zoo. River transport is recommended to use during the summer season.