Breeding - In-situ projects
Overview of the projects:
- Monitoring of dice snake in the area of Troja
Within the project a methodology for determining the age of the snakes and identifying individuals was developed. The first research was done within the framework of research projects at a secondary school (the project was awarded the first prize in the whole republic).
At present: The work is going on. The dice snakes are already active in April and immediately they started moving to their hunting resorts on the banks of the Vltava river.
- Reintroduction and the protection of European ground squirrels in the area of Troja
A let-out and acclimatisation range was built in the detached part of the northern ranges and inhabited by a first group of ground squirrels. The animals got used to it without any problems and all of them spent the winter there.
At present: After the technical adaptations four new pairs of ground squirrels have been placed in the aviary.
- Reintroduction of common barn owls and little owls in the area of Prague
Out of the young common barn owls and little owls born in 2006, we are preparing several individuals to be set free to the wild in 2007.
At present: The birds are in the let-out aviaries. If they nest they will be set free at the time of looking after the young ones. If not they will be set free without any relation to young birds.
- Reintroduction of black storks
Also this year we have bred two young birds and let them fly away from the area of the zoo.
At present: The couple of parents were again placed on a little island in the bottom part of the zoo and now they are hatching the eggs. The young birds will be again let fly away.
- Reintroduction of black-crowned night herons
The population nesting freely in the area of the zoo is stable and is still being monitored.
At present: Two pairs have already flown back to the bottom part of the zoo.
- Reintroduction of the bearded vultures
In 2006 1 young bird was bred and was also set free to the wild in the Alps.
At present: This year we do not expect any breeding.
- Reintroduction of Ural owls
Several young birds are prepared to be set free to the wild in 2007.
- Reintroduction of European bisons
Within the project one of our bred females was set free in the national park Biescady in Poland. After a short period of acclimatisation she successfully became a member of the herd.
- Reintroduction of Przewalski’s horses
In July 2006 the headquarters of the national park Gobi was opened near the village Tachin Tal in Mongolia. Its main purpose will be the care for the herds of Przewalski’s horses that had been set free here. The Prague zoo took financial part in the project by buying technical equipment necessary to monitor the movements of the herds in the area of the park.
- Help to the saving centre for gorillas and other primates in Africa
Thanks to the project of Czech radio and the Prague zoo called the Revealed we raised the sum of money that represents the adoption of four young gorillas in the saving centre Limbe, Cameroon.
- Eurasian black vultures – taking part in the European programme
In 2007 they laid 2 eggs and at least one seems to be hopeful. If the young bird is bred successfully and it is a male, it will be set free in France.
All of these are long-term projects and should become part of the workload of all the individual zoologists and all the staff of the zoo. Out of the prepared projects we should mention the project of monitoring amphibians in the area of the garden and its neighbourhood.
More articles in ... Annual report 2006
- The economic report
- The public
- Breeding - Introduction
- Breeding - Birds
- Breeding - Mammals (except ungulates)
- Breeding - Mammals (ungulates)
- Breeding - Przewalski´s Horse
- Breeding - Veterinary care
- Breeding - CITES Centre
- Breeding - Reptiles
- Operation and maintenance
- Construction activities
- The staff
