KOŠICE ZOO Košice Zoo as unique natural Zoo „ Carpathian Biom on the border of the City“ Mgr. Erich Kočner Ing. Patrik Pastorek 2017 • Košice Zoo – beginning of the construction in 1979 • Opened for public – August 1986 • Specifics – serious megaproject with government priority, already by origins without sufficient financial coverage – building of the youth • Goal – wild animal park of American type – autosafari Eurasia • Annual attendance in the first years only 20 – 40 thousand • Excentric position within the state The original Master Plan Košice Zoo Geology of Carpathian mountains around the Košice • Surroundings of Košice – complicated and variegated • Collision of rock units - gemericum, veporicum, silicicum • Characteristic geological unit of gemericum Gelnica group is Čermeľ group. It emerges in the contact area between gemericum and belt of Čierna hora. It´s thickness is at least 1350 m. • It is made of vulkanic – sedimentary stratum • It generated in older Carboniferous period (Tournaisian – Visean) • Most known undersurface body of magnesite is from Kavečany. It is 400 m long, 17 m wide and is falling to depth 100 m. Carpathian flora around the Košice • Carpathian flora is rich in number and species composition of plants • Reason - variegated geological suboil and mild climatic conditions • Broad-leaved Carpathian beech forests, in which European Beech (Fagus silvatica) makes the base of stability of forests ecosystems. • In altitude above 1000 meters grow coniferous forests • Original fir-beech forests have here and there still conserved primary forest type of ecosystem. Other mixed forests with oak, hornbeam, ash tree, birch, elm, hazel tree and other species belong more likely to thermophilic and grow in basins of mountains. Carpathian flora • To the Carpathian flora in Slovakia belong almost 40 endemic species of plants. • Most known is Cyclamen (Cyclamen fatrense), Daphne arbuscula. In spring blooms in tufts at dry stands Pulsatilla slavica a Pulsatilla subslavica. Carpathian Fauna • Endemic species – (TANAP) Tatran Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica), Tatran Marmot (Marmota marmota latirostris), Tatra Pine Vole (Microtus tatricus tatricus) • In Carpathian nature was rescued Gray Wolf (Canis lupus), who was by human almost exterminated and biggest European Felid Eurasian Lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) and European Brown Bear (Ursus arctos). Carpathian Fauna • In the area of Carpathian in Slovakia occurence of 351 bird species of which 222 species are nesting • Occurence and wintering of even 28 species of bats • Significant are water biotopes – home of Brown Trout (Salmo trutta). In rivers is the biggest predatory fish Dalune Salmon (Hucho hucho). • Still waters of mountain areas – Carpathian Newt (Triturus montandoni), 70 species of dragonflies • Beetles are represented by conspicuous Rosalia Longicorn (Rosalia alpina). Butterflies - swallowtails, frittilaries, Apaturas, ringlets, etc. In situ Support • Increasing of public awareness about necessity of nature conservation Education – interactive elements In situ direct support of species • Install of nesting boxes • Administration of surrounding meadows • Complementary feeding in unfavourable periods • Conservation of native species Research Repatriation of European Lynxes 39 animals in 2nd half of 80´s and 1st half of 90´s : • 9 lynxes (3,6) – France - Vogézy, project of WWF • 5 lynxes (2,3) - Czech republic – National park Bohemian Forest • 23 individuals for repatriation project to other Zoos (Ostrava, Dvůr Králové etc.) • 2 individiuals repatriated directly from Košice Zoo Repatriation of Ural Owls 1st half of 90´s : • Repatriation program in National park Bohemian Forest • Population of Ural Owl in Bohemian Forest extincted • Free living population in area of Košice Zoo • Košice Zoo as transfer institution for youngs taken from the nest – always taken 1 young from each nest, which wouldn´t survive Animal Collection in Košice Zoo today • Retreat from the original specialization on Eurasian fauna to Zoo of universal type • total 245 species, 1 080 individuals Thank you for your attention [email protected] +421 905 271 259 www.zookosice.sk .