Prague Zoo to Celebrate its 95th Anniversary in Grand Style
As is now traditional, Prague Zoo will celebrate the anniversary of its opening on Czech Statehood Day—and this time it will be its 95th! On Monday 28 September, the zoo has prepared a special celebratory programme with distinguished guests. Costumes, historic vehicles and stylish newsboys handing out vintage newspapers will transport the entire zoo back to the 1930s for the day. Visitors will be able to have their hair styled in 1930s fashion free of charge and dance to live swing music. Those arriving in a period-inspired outfit will also receive a small gift. The programme will also include the presentation of Prague Zoo’s news and the opening of the 95 Years of Prague Zoo exhibition. The popular fur seal training demonstrations will also take place, along with commented feedings and talks at the enclosures of animals that were there at the beginnings of Prague Zoo: wolves, lions and elephants.
Feeding of the male lion Jamvan will begin at 3 pm. Photo: Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
Alongside the zoo’s history, the iconic Przewalski’s horse will be another central theme of the 95th anniversary celebrations. Prague Zoo is also marking 15 years of its Return of the Wild Horses project, through which the zoo and its partners have been reintroducing these hoofed mammals into the wild in Central Asia. Symbolically, 2026 is also the Year of the Horse in the Chinese zodiac—specifically the Fire Horse. At the Gobi exhibit, the Ambassador of Mongolia to the Czech Republic and the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Czech Republic will speak about the significance of this world-renowned project. Representatives of the Czech Armed Force will then discuss the challenges involved in transporting the horses, while Mongolian musicians led by Badam Bolor will add a musical touch to the programme.
On the day of the anniversary celebrations only, visitors will also have a unique opportunity to purchase an exclusive souvenir created specially to mark Prague Zoo’s 95th anniversary.
In addition to 1930s clothing and hairstyles, historic cars and a motorcycle bearing a 1930s advertisement will help bring the atmosphere of the era to life, alongside newsboys handing out vintage newspapers, a performance by the Sunny Swing Orchestra and a performance by ZIG-ZAG Tap & Swing Dance Studio, which will also offer a 1930s dance workshop. The rich programme will also feature a fashion show by Aristokrat Vintage, a musical performance by Ema Papšová, interviews with people who remember the zoo from earlier decades, and the ceremonial opening of the 95 Years of Prague Zoo photography exhibition, which will present key milestones in the history of the capital’s zoo.
A 1930s motorcycle will be on display at the celebrations. Photo: Prague Zoo archive
The full programme for this year’s anniversary celebrations can be found below.
Main Programme of the Celebration of Prague Zoo’s 95th Anniversary
- 11:00 am Opening of the anniversary celebration and presentation of Prague Zoo’s news (Education Centre)
- 1:00 pm 15 years of the Return of the Wild Horses project (Gobi)
- 2:00 pm 95 Years of Prague Zoo: exhibition on historic milestones (Education Centre)
Education Centre terrace
- 10:10 1930s dance workshop with the ZIG-ZAG Tap & Swing Dance Studio
- 10:30 Musical performance by the Sunny Swing Orchestra
- 11:00 Opening of the anniversary celebration with representatives of the Prague City Hall
- 11:20 Presentation of Prague Zoo’s news
- 11:30 Fashion show by Aristokrat Vintage
- 1:50 Musical performance by Ema Papšová
- 2:00 Interviews with people who remember the zoo from earlier decades and opening of the photo exhibition 95 Years of Prague Zoo
- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Photo corner
Gobi exhibit
- 12:45 pm Musical performance by Mongolian artists led by Badam Bolor
- 1:05 pm Opening remarks by the Director of Prague Zoo on the future of the Return of the Wild Horses project
- 1:10 pm H.E. the Ambassador of Mongolia: presentation of the Head of State’s patronage of the project
- 1:15 pm Speech by H.E. the Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- 1:20 pm Interview with the representatives of the Czech Army
- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Face painting
- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Mongolia, land of wild horses: programme with the Czech-Mongolian Friendship and Cooperation Society
- 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Return of the Wild Horses: information and activity station
Special commented feedings and animal talks
- 10:00 am Talk on birds of prey (Great Aviary)
- 10:30 am Talk on Przewalski’s horses (Gobi)
- 12:30 pm Talk on elephants (Elephant Valley, grassy enclosure by the Gulab Restaurant)
- 1:30 pm Fur seal training demonstration (fur seals exhibit in the lower part of the zoo)
- 3:00 pm Feeding of the male lion (Feline and Reptile House, outdoor lion enclosure)
- 3:30 pm Wolf feeding (wolf enclosure in the upper part of the zoo)
The zoo’s founder, Professor Janda, and the legendary Baby the elephant. Photo: Prague Zoo archive
ZOOPRAHA.CZ
Contacts
- The Prague zoological garden
U Trojskeho zamku 120/3
171 00 Praha 7
Phone.: (+420) 296 112 230 (public relations department)
e-mail: zoopraha@zoopraha.cz
Others
