Construction activities
In September 2004 we started several building actions - partly rearrangements of the old expositions and partly building completely new expositions. We also started the reconstruction of the underground services and rear spaces.
1 New dormitory for the reindeer
The reindeer moved several times in the Prague zoo but they always stayed in one of the expositions in the northern parts of the zoo. The new dormitory is also situated in the cooler microclimate of the northwest part of the zoo area.
The dormitory itself takes up the area of 162 m2 and it is a simple wooden building of one storey and has got inclined roofing. The outside facades will be covered by planks and boards and the shutters and doors will be also made of wood. There will be three stables in the building and thanks to the sliding doors it will be possible to join them together. There will also be a couple of small separation ranges, a preparation room, storage for food and a service hallway.
Start of the construction: September 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
2 Dormitory for mooses
In the neighbourhood of the new exposition for reindeer there will be another northern dormitory, this one will be for the mooses.
Again in this case it will be a simple one-storey wooden building with inclined tin roof. The object will take up the area of 138 m2 and it will be 4.3 m high. It will look like a typical wooden cottage. Inside there will be three stables for the animals and it will be also possible to join the stables together. For the breeders there will be a preparation room and storage for food. There will be two smaller separation ranges joined to the building.
Start of the construction: September 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
3 Exposition of Siberian tigers
The exposition situated in the northwest part of the zoo is undergoing a total reconstruction that will change dramatically mainly the look of the outside range. The present iron bars will be substituted by a new lighter fencing made of wire mesh stretched onto steel poles and this will be interrupted by two glass viewpoints. The most impressive change will affect the water bodies in the range. Apart from the cascades created of 3-4 joined pools, there will also be a spacious pool right next to one of the viewpoints and so the visitors will be able to watch the tigers in the water just through the glass wall. The water will run due to forced circulation and the banks of the pools will be made of stones. The range has got the shape of a 21x16 m rectangular. At the road for the visitors the border of the range runs outside and creates a pointed arch with the viewpoints.
Start of the construction: September 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
4 Leopards
A new exposition for the Amur leopards will be built up in the northern part of the zoo, next to the exposition of the Siberian tigers. It will consist of a dormitory, exposition aviary and rear spaces for the breeders.
The leopards climb and jump very well, so the outside exposition cannot be opened. The exposition will be in a spacious aviary that will be fenced by metal poles and wire mesh covered in plastic. The aviary will be closed on the top by a polypropylene netting stretched on ropes. The visitors will not be disturbed by the wire mesh as the aviary will have a glazed viewpoint just as it is at the cheetahs now.
Water bodies will be part of the exposition. Altogether there will be 4 pools joined together by overflows. The water will circulate and the cascade will be about two metres high. The banks will be paved with stones and there will also be some plants there.
The ground plan of the expositional aviary will be of a roughly rectangular shape (11.2x17.8 m). The fencing will be up to 5.5 m high.
Start of the construction: 1st September 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
5 Rearrangement of the penguins’ range
The range and the pool for penguins were as well as the pavilion flooded in 2002. The pebble beach was contaminated and clogged. Within the framework of the reconstruction, the disposition of the pool as well as the ground around it will be changed.
The outside pool will be enlarged and most importantly it will get moved towards the road for the visitors. Part of the fencing will be substituted by glazing and the terrain will be arranged in such a way that it will be possible to watch the penguins swimming underwater as well. The pool will be surrounded by a pebble beach. The pool will take up the area of about 90 m2, the maximum length will be 13 m, the maximum width will be 10 m and it will be 85–90 cm deep.
During the hot summer months the air in the range will be misted over from subtle jets. On the other hand, in winter the edges and the ways out of the pool will be heated so that they would not get frozen. Apart from the big pool there will also be a small shallow pool and a brook in the range.
Start of the construction: September 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
6 Aviaries for owls
At the place where used to be the old aviaries (They are in unsatisfactory state.) for owls, there will be built a new system of bigger aviaries. It will rather be one big aviary with hardly recognizable inside divisions into more separate spaces. The aviaries will have a supporting construction made of wood and will be covered by a nylon netting. Full-grown trees will become part of the exposition in the aviary.
Start of the construction: September 2004
Completion of the construction: December 2004
7 The underground services and the operation rear spaces
In the bottom part of the zoo we will finish the reconstruction of the electrification after the flood. Within the framework of this project, the old transformer stations that are now located near the exit from the zoo (under the exposition of the sea lions) and at the pavilion of big cats will be moved. They will be newly situated outside the area accessible for the visitors and they will be placed high enough so that they would not be affected in case of flood.
The operation rear spaces (the so-called farm) behind the pavilion of Indonesian Jungle will undergo a complete reconstruction. A new complex of buildings that will suit the higher operational demands of the zoo will be built there, instead of the old and unsatisfactory garages, reserve garden or storage rooms for technical materials.
8. The new restaurant and its vicinity
A new modern restaurant is being built at the place where the original restaurant Koliba used to be. It will be a one-storey pavilion that combines glass and natural materials (wood and stones). Apart from the restaurant itself there will also be a large terrace with a small water pool. The surfaces will be decorated with works of art and special planting of vegetation.
Start of the construction: August 2004
Completion of the construction: February 2005
