Hit by floods
In 2002, Prague Zoo was hit by a hundred-year flood, especially the lower part of the zoo was affected. Within a few hours 1000 animals were evacuated, the damage totaled CZK125 million (about 5.4 million dollar). In the following years, many pavilions were renovated or rebuilt.Animal welfare
Prague Zoo plays a key role in ensuring that exceptionally rare animal species do not become extinct. Above all, the zoo became famous for breeding the Przewalski horses, which are extinct in the wild. These primordial horses are the ancestors of our today's domestic horses. Currently, a new housing facility for the Przewalski's horses and other intra-Asian species is being built on the upper part of the zoo premises. It is supposed to be opened in 2024, until then Nepomuk, Vereda, Xicara, Gruhne, Khamiina and Lana can be visited on the pasture land Dívčí hrady. The Prague Zoo's reintroduction project for Przewalski's horses in eastern Mongolia is also in the starting blocks.Successful animal breeding
In 1940, the zoo succeeded to raise a polar bear for the first time in the world. This was later followed by the first successful breeding of a clouded leopard and cheetah in Czechoslovakia. It is also the only zoo in the temperate zone that regularly succeeds in breeding the Cuban iguana. Likewise, the breeding success of Galapagos tortoises is impressive: the Prague Zoo keeps the most in Europe.Experience a wide variety of habitats
Prague Zoo is located in the Troy district and has valuable geological features to offer. In addition to rock walls and a valley, the extensive area is partially covered by forest, and natural watercourses and streams which run through the zoo. The zoo has created 12 pavilions within this unique terrain - we'll give you a glimpse of eight of the most popular ones!
Playing with water in the Elephant Valley | Photo: Unsplash, Alexander ShustovLearn more about the largest land animals
Eight Indian elephants populate the Elephant Valley of Prague Zoo, including a young elephant that was born here in Prague! The elephant enclosure has its own app available for Android and iOS, which provides lots of information about the gentle giants.
Hippo family in the Hippo Pavilion | Photo: Unsplash, Dušan veverkologThe comfiest animals in the zoo
The Hippo Pavilion of the Prague Zoo allows you to observe the animals both above and below water. Inside, guests can have a look through the glass into the hippopotamus pool.Meet the giant
At 158 cm and 36 kg, the largest and also the heaviest living giant salamander named Karlo is waiting for you in the Giant Salamander Pavilion. Karlo originally came from the Karlsruhe Museum of Natural History and was only lent to the Prague Zoo, later he was passed on to them. Chinese giant salamanders are the largest amphibians in the world.Now it's getting wild!
Recently modernized, the Predatory Cat and Reptile Pavilion unites tigers and ocelots as well as iguanas and monitor lizards under one roof.
Parrots in the Gorilla-Pavilion | Photo: Unsplash, Anna GruSwinging with the primates
The Gorilla Pavilion is home to dozens of Central African species, along with leaping tamarins, pygmy monkeys, marsupials, wasps and marmosets, as well as five endangered gorillas. Visitors can experience the Cameroonian landscape and wildlife up close, just as if they were on a journey through the Central African rainforest. Opened in September 2022, the world's most modern gorilla pavilion is among the newest on the grounds; it is also one of Prague Zoo's largest buildings. For several years, the zoo has been committed to animal welfare in the Dja Wildlife Reserve in Cameroon, after which the gorilla pavilion was also named. Undisputedly, the highlight of this pavilion are the parrots, which can be admired open-air - since their flight feathers have been clipped, they cannot fly away.
The inhabitants of the Penguin Pavilion | Photo: Unsplash, Martin KnížeLift the fins
Since the Penguin Pavilion was severely affected by the floods, a new pool was built. Now visitors can also watch the penguins under water - penguins provide fun for young and old here!Experience Africa first hand
In the Africa House you feel like you are standing right in the middle of the savannah - next to brush-eared pigs, aardvarks, grasshoppers and weaver birds you will also find one of the most endangered species, the Rothschild's giraffe.Enter the rain forest
As soon as you enter the Indonesian Jungle Pavilion, you have the feeling of being very close to the equator. In this humid climate you can find lizards, pig monkeys, orangutans and birds, among others. The highlight awaits you at the end of the exhibition: bats sitting in the tunnel! This pavilion is one of the biggest projects of Czech zoos.