World Pangolin Day is always commemorated on the third Saturday in February. Recently, it has finally entered the consciousness, if not of the public, then at least of those interested in nature and its conservation. Its aim is to draw attention to these mammals’ uniqueness and the threat they face from illegal hunting and trade.

The most easterly provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo are still dealing with the consequences of the influx of refugees from neighbouring Rwanda, during the 1994 genocide there, and the tragedies of the two subsequent Congolese wars. These have yet to die down fully and have led to the so-called ‘Kivu conflict’,...

Although the temperatures outside are just a few degrees above zero, Prague Zoo’s keepers are already ending the terrarium inhabitants’ brumation by gradually increasing the light and warming up the exhibits. The reptiles are waking up from their winter rest and for them spring is all about colourful courtship.

Prague Zoo’s visitors can marvel at the baby mantled guereza, which is still white, in the Water World and Monkey Islands exhibit. The three-week-old addition is already taking an active interest in its surroundings, so the keepers had a chance to identify its sex.

On Saturday, January 22nd, an Egyptian vulture flew in to Prague Zoo. From Lebanon, by plane.

This Egyptian vulture, named after the Persian goddess Anahita, has become a symbol of both tragedy and hope. After leaving its nest in the Bulgarian Rhodopes to travel to Africa, it was shot in Lebanon. However, thanks to the efforts of local conservationists, it was rescued and has found a new home at Prague Zoo where, with...

The scientific paper published last year by Timothy T. Taylor and Christina I. Barrón-Ortiz may not have a very catchy title – Rethinking the Evidence for Early Horse Domestication at Botai – however, it is very interesting. After reading it, I remembered one of my favourite kaleidoscopes. Simply turn it around and the...

At first it reminded me a bit of the tale The Fall of the Votický Family in Karel Čapek's Tales from Two Pockets. In it, Dr. Mejzlik, a police officer, is visited by Mr. Divíšek, an archivist, who asks him to help him with his work on the reign of King George of Poděbrady; specifically, the sinister goings on at Votica...

A family trip to Karlštejn reminded me of an old mystery, closely related to this castle. First, I had fun trying to solve it by myself, later also with my two colleagues from Prague Zoo – Dr Ivan Rehák and Dr Jaroslav Šimek.