AJ Blok 3 2019 Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:47 Stránka 3
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AJ_obalka 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:43 Stránka 1 the magazine for friends of the Brno Zoo No. 3 november 2019 In the desert AJ_obalka 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:44 Stránka 3 s Content In the past months s 04 In the desert 12 Rescue Station the senses and encourage the animal to A place where extremes Drought and domestic animals “search” or play. The smell of sheep or are common camel hair is something unusual for ti- the magazin for friends of the Brno Zoo gers, as if an unknown animal had run through their territory, and the whole enrichment element is something that november 2019 requires them to make a thorough exa- No. 3/19, volume XXI mination of what seems suspicious, but publisher four times per year perhaps might be catchable. MK ČR E 17723 The idea of proclaiming July 29World Tiger Day was the result of the "Tiger Editor: Summit" held in 2010 in St. Petersburg, Brno Zoo and Environmental Education Russia. For the first time ever, represen- Centre, semi-budgetary organization tatives of all 13 countries where tigers The tigress Satu attacked the sheep without hesitation. Photo: Michal Vaňáč U Zoologické zahrady 46, 635 00 Brno, live in the wild gathered to agree on Czech Republic a common approach to protect this big In the desert IČ: 00101451 cat. Among other things, the negotiati- 16 13 SEV Hlídka tel.: +420 546 432 311 Camels: Majestic rulers of the desert Water at Hlídka ons resulted in an ambitious commit- fax: +420 546 210 000 ment to double the number of tigers in e-mail: [email protected] the wild by 2022. Part of the species Publisher: conservation strategy is also the main- Moravian Museum tenance of in situ conservation popula- Zelný trh 6, 659 37 Brno tions, including our Brno Zoo tigers. Czech Republic IČO: 00094862 Release of ground squirrels A record number of young emerged Editor’s office addres from the burrows in our special enclo- The male Dandys was cautious about the camel and examined it thoroughly. Photo: Michal Vaňáč Zoo Brno a stanice zájmových činností, p. o. sure of European ground squirrels redakce Zooreportu (Spermophilus citellus) this spring. The U Zoologické zahrady 46, 635 00 Brno, colony, which is included in the AOPK Czech Republic (Critical Endangered Species Conser- In the desert Newborns tel.: +420 546 432 370 vation Agency) rescue project, is stable. 08 14 fax: +420 546 210 000 Successful breeding of sand cats Additions to the Brno Zoo Because of this, we were able to return e-mail: [email protected] 26 individuals from the colony to the Editorial board: wild. This year's release, which took Mgr. Jana Galová, Bc. Jana Hadová, place on 23rd July and which attracted MVDr. Martin Hovorka, Ph.D. (Chairman great interest from the media and poli- of the Editorial Board), RNDr. Bohumil Král, CSc. tical leaders, was carried out below Milá (specialist advisor), Ing. Miroslava Piškulová, hill in the České středohoří Mountains. Bc. Eduard Stuchlík, Ing. Oldřiška Kučerová, and Mgr. Michal Vaňáč (chief editor). There was a surprise in the birdhouse A surprise awaited zoologists during Emendation: their regular inspection of the special Rosalind Miranda booths for the Eurasian hoopoe (Upupa Sčítání mláďata odhalilo rekordní množství malých syslů. Foto: archiv Michal Vaňáč epops), which Brno Zoo takes care of Distribution: within the framework of a project for 10 In the desert 16 What is waiting for us 400 pcs in the English version the protection of this species. Eurasian Reptiles are destined to live Advent, clubs, workshops, 1,600 pcs in the Czech version wryneck (Jynx torquilla) chicks were in hot climates and the Christmas tree The author of all unmarked photos is Bc. Eduard discovered at one of the sites instead of Stuchlík; all unsigned texts were written by the expected titmice and hoped-for ho- Ing. Oldřiška Kučerová. opoes. The Eurasian wryneck is one of the most endangered species in the First page: Sand cats. Czech Republic, as is the hoopoe. Photo by Bc. Eduard Stuchlík UNSALEABLE u Eurasian wryneck chicks in a booth. Photo: Petr Suvorov 2 www.facebook.com/ZooBrno www.zoobrno.cz Zooreport 19 AJ_blok 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:47 Stránka 3 Editorial s EDITORIAL Dear Readers, In previous issues of ZooReport, we focused on topics unique to Brno. This time we will briefly but clearly focus on a topic which is much dis- cussed and extremely important for the future: deserts and drought. When talking about deserts, most people think of sand and a hostile environment without a drop of life. In this issue, I hope we will convince you of the opposite. First, let's take a look at what a desert is, how it arises, and why we should defini- tely not be indifferent to desertification. Next up are the main stars of this edi- tion, the desert animals. Because we try to show the diversity of nature in Brno Zoo, we cannot forget this key area. We will first take a close-up look at camels. For example, you will learn why they have such long eyelashes and closable nostrils, and how much water they are able to drink in one hour. Sand cats are one of the most popular animals in Brno Zoo. This is not sur- prising, due to their appearance and breeding success, which is inherently In the regular section of our rescue events, as well as events that have alre- linked to Brno Zoo. Their long-time station, you can read about how to help ady occurred that we think are worth breeder, Michal Balcar, told us all about local animals in drought conditions. remembering. these beautiful beasts, so this is certa- The Ecological Education Centre In this issue, I will also direct your inly an article to look forward to. Hlídka will present its educational pro- attention to the very last page. Christ- gram “Let’s go where the water flows!“ Of course the desert is not just for mam- mas is already fast approaching, as it The program is intended for children mals. It is a place where only specially always does at this time! If you are thin- from three to six years of age and pri- equipped individuals can survive, those king about a Christmas gift, be sure to mary school pupils. Another reason to which are adapted for the conditions of check it out. go to Špilberk is to see the beautiful this hostile environment of high tempe- grounds of the Hlídka centre. Happy reading! ratures and lack of precipitation. In the animal kingdom, reptiles are perfectly Next up is news. Two whole pages Mgr. Michal Vaňáč adapted for these conditions, and that is are devoted to the pups which were Head of External Relations, why they became the most abundant de- born in Brno Zoo in recent months. Spokesperson sert inhabitants. How they did this is de- Perhaps you will like this dose of cute- finitely worth reading about on page 10. ness. This is followed by upcoming www.zoobrno.cz Zooreport 3 AJ_blok 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:47 Stránka 4 s In the desert DESERT: a place where extremes are common We have another hot summer behind us, so we should dedicate the tion. It can also be caused by contami- autumn issue of ZooReport to something that is associated with sum- nation of the soil with dangerous or mer; or rather, in recent years it has been associated with it very harmful substances, for example unsafe pesticides and herbicides; and by de- often. We have had some very extreme seasons, so we will focus on pletion of minerals, which results in the heat and drought, and there is no area warmer and drier than the inability to grow vegetation in such pla- desert. Therefore, we will take a closer look at the desert species li- ces. Indiscriminate logging, which dis- ving in Brno Zoo. But first, let’s meet the desert itself. rupts ecosystems, is also a problem. The common factor is therefore signi- ficant overloading of the soil to the ex- Deserts are areas of the world known mals and plants need to be specially tent that groundwater is no longer able for their extreme conditions. They adapted to these extremes. to restore vegetation. Desertification is occur mostly around the equator. These Recently, the world has faced the observable in the Sahara, which is in- are places where rainfall does not ex- problem of slow desertification. This creasingly expanding beyond its origi- ceed 250mm per year, so they suffer can be caused by global climate change nal boundary; or on Aral Lake, which from water shortages, and there are or by human activity in areas adjacent is disappearing, leaving a hostile and also significant differences between day to deserts. The main factors contribu- barren desert on its banks. and night temperatures. During the ting to desertification are changes in We can sometimes see the extreme day, temperatures can reach up to 40°C, temperature or rainfall or surface ru- conditions of the desert in our own but can fall to freezing overnight. The noff of the area. Human-induced de- landscape. In recent years, Central Eu- opposite is the case with cold deserts, sertification is most associated with rope has faced several dry and very hot such as the Gobi, which are characteri- agriculture, such as parallel plowing summers, with essential groundwater zed by extreme frosts during the winter. and planting of monocultures (sowing levels falling significantly. These condi- Because of these conditions, there is only one plant species), which lead to tions, besides causing a decrease in very little life in deserts because ani- water flow without sufficient infiltra- agricultural production, also had a very 4 www.facebook.com/ZooBrno AJ_blok 3_2019_Sestava 1 8.11.2019 12:47 Stránka 5 In the desert s unfavourable impact on the landscape sures; and those who enjoy such re- biodiversity.