Dja Reserve: gorilla family group

Letecký pohled na nový pavilon goril z dubna 2022. Foto: Miroslav Bobek, Zoo Praha

Named Dja Reserve after the area in Cameroon where Prague Zoo has long been involved in conservation work, the pavilion also highlights the zoo’s Wandering Bus project.

Dja Reserve—the new gorilla house—was built with the idea of giving visitors the authentic atmosphere of a journey through Cameroon, from the countryside on the edge of the tropical rainforest, then deep into the rainforest and on to a clearing where gorillas can be spotted. Not only did we want to introduce the animals of Central Africa, but also their natural habitat.

“The asphalt road has long since turned into an earthen road. Its red dust covers the surrounding, dense vegetation as well as our equipment. We arrive at the borders of Cameroon’s Dja Faunal Reserve, one of the most extensive and species-rich areas of undisturbed tropical rainforest in Central Africa. The sounds of the forest beckon us to go on a journey into this fascinating world. Before entering its half-light, we visit a local school in a village just outside the reserve’s boundary. And then we set off into the forest. We suddenly burst into a clearing where we can observe a group of western lowland gorillas...”

The pavilion can be reached via a footbridge from the western edge of the Elephant Valley, as well as by a path from the African House, which offers unexpected views of the giraffe enclosure. Additionally, a new zoo entrance has been created right in front of the pavilion, complete with a public bus stop (routes 234, 235, and 236 to the Zoo Praha – Sklenářka stop).

To see more videos offering a glimpse into life at Prague’s Dja Reserve, visit our playlist.