DO NOT MISS HIGHLIGHTS MAP OF THE PRAGUE ZOO

SKLENÁŘKA HOUSE

 FERRY N PODBABA - PODHOŘÍ NEW GORILLA PAVILION BOHNICE  W E Pod Hrachovkou UNDER CONSTRUCTION

AFRICAN SAVANNA S

TIGERS GOČÁR‘S HOUSES NORTHERN AFRICAN FOREST HOUSE

WOLVES ELEPHANT VALLEY Pod Hrachovkou NORTHER OBSERVATION ENTRANCE BUS 112 TOWER 236 GEOLOGICAL TRAIL K Bohnicím ELEPHANT PLAINS PAPER ACROSS WORKSHOP RADEGAST THE CONTINENTS UNDER HIPPO AFRICA CONSTRUCTION CAMELS HOUSE UP CLOSE

OTTERS ROCK OUTCROP PRZEWALSKI‘S KANGAROOS HORSES ZEBRAS

Trojská BIRD ZAKÁZANKA PATH AUSTRALIA WETLANDS PARROT TRAIL INDONESIAN POLAR JUNGLE AVIARIES BEARS GIANT SALAMANDER ON THE ROCKY RÁKOS PAVILION HOUSE MINE SLOPE CENTRE  GALLERY UNDER CONSTRUCTION CHAIRLIFT MAIN TERÁRIUM ENTRANCE FELINE AND REPTILE PAVILION SICHUAN BORORO PAVILION OF BIG TORTOISES BUS 112 RESERVE PAVILION 236 OF PENGUINS CHEETAHS CHAMBAL FLAMINGOS GHARIALS PAVILION EXIT Published by the Zoological Garden ARCHA WATER WORLD of the Capital City of Prague © 2015 GORILLA THEATER AND MONKEY ISLANDS FUR SEALS PAVILION Text: Miroslav Bobek, Romana Anděrová, Martin Smrček TROJA CHILDREN‘S CHATEAU Photo: Tomáš Adamec, Miroslav Bobek, Petr Hamerník, Evžen ZOO

Kůs, Jana Ptačinská Jirátová, Marián Polák, Petr Jan Juračka, U Trojského zámku Jaroslav Šimek, Antonín Vaidl, Jiří Polák, Mikuláš Velenský Graphics and DTP: Optio (Tomáš Duchek), Marek Václavík SOUTHERN Print: Akontext ENTRANCE  Print run: 1000 ks VLTAVA

LANDING PLACE OF PRAGUE STEAMBOAT COMPANY  STROMOVKA  INTRODUCTION

silverback male; the elephant herd, which includes a female, named Gulab, who has been with us for almost half a century; and our group of fur seals, who cannot but cap- ture the heart of every visitor. What is more, zoo-goers are equally appreciative of the variegated landscape in which our zoo is set – as well as of the services available to them and their children, ranging from our many restaurants to the unique play area called the Bororo Reserve. So it is surely no accident that TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, Within sight of Prague Castle, over an area named us the 7th best zoo in the world last roughly the size of fi fty soccer fi elds, extends year. We do hope you too will come visit us at the second-most-visited tourist attraction in Prague Zoo! the : Prague Zoo. Every year, it draws over a million and a quarter visitors, who come to admire its 4,737 animals of 682 diff erent species, to be seen in outside enclosures and numerous pavilions. Among Miroslav Bobek Prague Zoo’s most popular celebrities are the Director of Prague Zoo gorilla family, led by Richard, a magnifi cent HISTORIC MILESTONES

A motorbike-mounted mobile advertisement inviting people to visit the Zoo (1930s) 1931 September 28, Prague Zoo opens its gates to the public for the fi rst time. 1932 The fi rst Przewalski’s horses arrive. 1934 ‘Baby’ arrives, the Zoo’s fi rst elephant. 1959 Prague Zoo is entrusted with keeping the International studbook for the Przewalski’s horse. 1966 Arrival of gulab the elephant female. 1971 Prague Zoo hosts a conference of the International Union of the Directors of Zoological Gardens (IUDZG). 2002 The Zoo is hit by a devastating fl ood. 2004 The Indonesian Jungle pavilion is inaugurated and Komodo dragons arrive. 2011 Prague Zoo undertakes its fi rst transport of Przewalski’s horses to . 2014 Prague Zoo is acknowledged as the 7th most popular zoo in the world.

3 ELEPHANT VALLEY

PAVILION IN NUMBERS DO NOT MISS ■ room for up to 10 elephants ■ Sita, the fi rst elephant calf born ■ 8,080 m2 of exhibit space in Prague Zoo ■ 2,414 m2 of indoor area ■ peeking inside the elephant house, with its pools, sandbox and scratching posts 5 ELEPHANT VALLEY

In the Elephant Valley, our elephant family – the largest in the Czech Republic – enjoys gorgeous, elaborately structured enclosures. This generously laid-out complex, complete with spacious swimming pools and a separate enclosure for a male, gives visitors the oppor- tunity to take in remarkable views of elephants and allow themselves to be carried away to South Asia for a brief spell, where most of our elephants hail from.

On the half-kilometer trail around the Elephant Valley, you can visit an ashram and a gom- pa (a Hindu sanctuary and a Buddhist one), admire dozens of original Asian artifacts, see what it feels like to ride an elephant by climb- ing onto our elephant movement simulator, and explore a native village.

Welcome to the fascinating world of elephants!

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INDONESIAN JUNGLE

PAVILION IN NUMBERS DO NOT MISS ■ 1,100 animals of over 60 diff erent ■ our family of orangutans, the largest species tree-dwelling mammals in the world ■ 19 artifi cial trees ■ our Komodo dragons, the largest lizards ■ over 70 species of live plants in the world ■ area: 1,900 m2, volume: 16,000 m3 ■ the tropical river complete with a waterfall and over 40 species of fi sh and turtles ■ the mangrove forest with mudskippers, a species of fi sh that can walk on dry land 9 INDONESIAN JUNGLE

The original design of this glazed building conceals a slice of Southeast Asian tropical rain forest. It’s the whole kit and caboodle, with its ubiquitous sounds, lush vegetation and teeming animal population, over a thousand strong in this case.

Among the animals that live in this pavilion, you will fi nd Komodo dragons – the world’s largest lizards – the critically endangered Sumatran orangutans and many other species of mammals, birds, turtles and fi sh. Speaking of Komodo dragons, Prague Zoo’s top-of- the-line breeding program makes it one of the most successful breeders of these giant lizards worldwide.

Visitors touring the pavilion will also get to peek inside the world of nocturnal animals, where they can observe many unusual crea- tures and even get to meet free-fl ying fruit bats.

10 Sumatran Smooth-coated Otter Mudskipper Orangutan AFRICAN HOUSE

This pavilion, in which you will feel like you are standing in a native village looking out onto a sun-drenched African savanna, is home to many an interesting creature. You will get to see giraff es, river hogs (those multicolored cousins of wild boar), as well as bizarre-look- ing aardvarks. The fi nishing touch is provided by weavers and other African birds. In the foreground of the African House you will fi nd a group of meerkats whose restless activity and likable appearance is sure to captivate pretty much anyone who sees them.

The adjacent fi ve-hectare enclosure is shared, in high season, by several large herbivore species, ranging from giraff es to lechwe ante- lopes, not to mention ostriches. Thus, within a stone’s throw of a bustling metropolis, you can enjoy a remarkable view of the wildlife of the African savanna. Aardvark

12 DO NOT MISS PAVILION IN NUMBERS ■ our herd of Rothschild’s giraff es, ■ over 50 animals of 15 diff erent species the tallest mammals in the world ■ pavilion area: 973 m2 ■ the insect-eating aardvarks ■ enclosure area: 22,921 m2 ■ several species of antelopes ■ the vivacious meerkats, tiny carnivorans beloved by children and adults alike FELINE AND REPTILE PAVILION

Felines are undoubtedly one of the biggest crowd-pullers in any zoo, including ours. In Prague Zoo, they inhabit a large pavilion with spacious outdoor enclosures. Inside, you will come across small feline species, leopards, lions and tigers, as well as terrariums housing rare reptiles, ranging from rattlesnakes, boas and ground-dwelling iguanas all the way to tiny denizens of Asian and American deserts. There is even an aquarium with anacondas and the freshwater vermiculate river stingray.

The pavilion’s modern information system includes touch-screen panels, television sets off ering video presentations about the ani- mals kept in the pavilion, and even a special heat-sensitive camera that allows you to expe- rience how a rattlesnake perceives the world around it.

14 DO NOT MISS PAVILION IN NUMBERS ■ the rare Sumatran tigers and the ■ 8 feline species mysterious clouded leopards ■ over 20 reptile species ■ the reptilian denizens of deserts ■ pavilion area: 2,275 m2 and semi-deserts ■ enclosure area: 2,750 m2 ■ the opportunity to see a thermal image of yourself PAVILION OF GORILLAS

One of the biggest attractions in the lower part of the zoo is our family of western lowland gorillas, Prague Zoo’s pride and joy. In warm weather, the gorillas spend their days in a grassy enclosure outside, where they can be observed by visitors from across a wa- ter-fi lled moat and a gallery overlooking the gorilla family’s knoll. When the weather turns cold, the troop stays in the indoor exhibit area equipped with a multitude of toys and tree trunks to climb. Standing on the other side of the glass, visitors can watch both Richard, the troop’s level-headed silverback patriarch, and the females with their young.

The gorillas’ day is a very captivating aff air: you can never grow tired of observing them. No wonder, then, that the pavilion has cap- tured the attention of so many zoo-goers. So why don’t you join them and go meet our gorilla family?

16 DO NOT MISS PAVILION IN NUMBERS ■ our gorilla clan ruled by Richard and ■ can house up to 10 gorillas staff ed by his wives and hyperactive ■ indoor enclosure: 238 m2 babies ■ pavilion area: 798 m2 ■ the tropical forest inhabited by tamarins ■ outdoor enclosure area: 811 m2 (callitrichid monkeys) GIANT SALAMANDER HOUSE

The mysterious Chinese giant salamander is the world’s largest amphibian – as well as the protagonist of War with the Newts, a novel by the world-famous Czech writer Karel Čapek. Giant Salamander House is a structure that has no parallel throughout Europe. Not only does it provide a home for these critically endangered creatures, it also pays homage to the writer.

The pavilion has a special lighting regime. In the morning, visitors can watch the giant salamanders with the lights turned on. In the afternoon, semi-darkness prevails. However, whatever the time of day, you are sure to be captivated by the unusual design of the water tanks, which allow you to observe the sala- manders from a variety of angles – even from below. You should also take advantage of our special armchairs, where you can sit back and listen to passages from War with the Newts.

Mang Mountain 18 Pit Viper DO NOT MISS PAVILION IN NUMBERS ■ having a close encounter with the largest ■ pavilion area: 186 m2 living amphibians in the world ■ exhibit area: 137 m2 ■ enjoying a quiet sit-down while listening to ■ water tank surface area: 27.5 m2 Karel Čapek’s novel War with the Newts ■ water temperature: 13−22 °C ■ the accompanying exhibits featuring rare and critically endangered turtles and snakes BORORO RESERVE

The dominant feature of this rest, play and education-by-entertainment area for parents with children is a giant children’s climbing frame, made up of numerous huts, suspen- sion bridges, ladders and other adventurous elements. All this combines to form a sort of village mounted on poles, evocative of the tree dwellings of Amazonian Indians. To climb to the very top is a great adventure, so it is no surprise that the climbing frame is always teeming with people, most of them children. The complex also includes an amphitheater, where demonstrations of animal training are regularly staged. If you want to learn about all the things that animals can do and why it is useful for to train them, be sure not to miss out on a visit to the amphitheater.

20 DO NOT MISS EXHIBIT IN NUMBERS ■ discovering the many surprising nooks ■ total area: 1,025 m2 on the multi-level climbing frame ■ number of huts within the climbing ■ enjoying a relaxing sit-down in a café frame: 7 overlooking the play area ■ chute length: 15 m ■ attending an engaging performance with trained animals at the Amphitheatre ■ visiting the terrarium, which houses dozens of snakes, lizards and turtles BIRD WETLANDS

A stroll through this system of airy walk-through aviaries around spacious enclosures and expanses of water will take you on a tour of the most beautiful marshlands in the entire world – from the ponds of Central Europe to Africa’s Okavango Swamps to the Pantanal in South America. Some 160 birds of over 60 diff erent species are here on view for you to admire. You will see shorebirds bustling on the ground, and, perched over them, red ibises, herons and exotic-looking storks. Also, you will get to hear lapwings and Australian kingfi shers, whose calls carry a long way.

Nevertheless, the attention of passing zoo-goers is always commandeered by the largest residents of our Bird Wetlands: the remarkable shoebills, wading birds with huge beaks shaped like a clog. We are one of the few zoos in the world to house them. You can see them all year Shoebill round in their spacious, overgrown enclosure, which evokes the atmosphere of swamps on the Central African savanna.

22 DO NOT MISS EXHIBIT IN NUMBERS ■ our pair of shoebills, the largest wading ■ total area: 5,600 m2 birds in the world ■ shoebill quarters area: 90 m2 ■ our chipper and chatty shorebirds ■ shoebill enclosure area: 160 m2 ■ the African openbills, which we are the only zoo in Europe to breed ■ our graceful cranes and their courtship dances BREEDING SUCCESSES

1934 Birth of our Zoo’s fi rst Przewalski’s horse foal. 1937 First-ever captive breeding of an Andean Condor in the world. 1942 Birth of the fi rst captive-bred polar bear in the world (named Ilun, nicknamed Snow White). 1955 First captive breeding of a Lord Derby’s Parakeet in the world. 1971 Birth of Kama, the fi rst orangutan born in a Czechoslovak zoo. 1972 Birth of our fi rst cheetah cubs. 1981 Successful rearing of hippo twins. 2004 Birth of Moja – the fi rst gorilla birth in a Czech zoo. 2007 First hatching of Komodo dragons in Prague. 2014 First-ever captive hatching of Iraqi spiny-tailed lizards in the world. 2014 First-ever captive breeding of cotton pygmy-geese in the Czech Republic.

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