For the first time Vulturine guineafowls (Acryllium vulturinum) hatched in the zoo. Source: Instagram of Dvůr Králové (22/11/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CWkn2tWsLQq/
I found some informations about the new flamingos aviary and some pictures of the new area. So the new flamingos aviary is 480 square meters and the visitors will be able to go in with a boardwalk on one of the sides. I am a little bit disappointed with this size of aviary as it is really small even for 75 greater flamingos. And the photos I found : Not the new flamingos house. More chance it is a new restaurant. New area And new flamingos aviary in construction : Safari park začne stavět pavilon pro tučňáky a vinici. Kraken se chystá do Lodže An a link with a video where you can see the new flamingos house from indoor and outdoor : Ve Dvoře stěhovali plameňáky do nové voliéry a přistřihli jim letky - iDNES.cz
That first pic is indeed the new restaurant "Steak house" that opened during the summer. Size of the new flamingo aviary is ok I would say. But pond banks covered by midsized pebbles in it is stupid idea. The pinguin exhibit construction is also nicely underway, the concrete structure of the outside pool is done.
Also a new breeding male for the Rothschild's giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) arrived from Plzen in July. In August 3 Cape porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis) were born. Sources: Instagram of Zoo Dvůr Králové (13/07/2021) Login • Instagram Instagram of Zoo Dvůr Králové (13/08/2021) Login • Instagram
A Nile hippo calf has been born recently to parents Mike and Mona. Gender not revealed. Source: FB site The zoo also posted a pic of their first pelican chick - pink-backed pelican - of this winter breeding season. (Usually, later during winter or early spring, if some late chicks can´t be placed under parents anymore because they have already left nests, there are hand-reared chicks visible in the nursery room in bird house for visitors.) Starting this weekend, the zoo areal is decorated by festive Christmas lights and other decorations. It should last till early January. But their cute Christmas market (where you could buy hand-made items or try ethnic African food) seem to have been cancelled this year to avoid building of crowds?
On the 28th of December a female Kirk's dik-dik (Madoqua kirkii) was born, according to the post the same female gave birth to another young at the start of last year. Source: Instagram of Dvůr Králové (14/01/2022) https://www.instagram.com/p/CYtDb3jsvM9/
Their genders have recently been revealed, 3 females and 1 male. Source: Instagram of Dvůr Králové (18/01/2022) https://www.instagram.com/p/CY3sqpuM-wm/
Recently another Red duiker (Cephalophus natalensis) was born! Source: Instagram of Zoo Dvůr Králové (16/01/2022) Login • Instagram
The zoo keeps griffon vultures off-show and plans to build an aviary for them in the enlargement area. According to media articles, they hold 3,3 birds. Of them 2 females came from Moscow (lack of females in EU zoos has forced the zoo to source them from far away) and 1,1 came from Ostrava zoo last year where their female was trying to court a male from Ostrava´s established breeding pair so she had to go. They have been now all put together with hope they would form 3 pairs and show breeding behaviour this spring. Personally, I would prefer Dvur would keep some rarer African vulture species instead. But the zoo expressed their wish to release future vulture offspring into nature (in Europe) so this is logical species to keep I guess.
Surprised that no griffon vultures available in western or central Europe. I know for a fact that Spain regularly sends off non releasable birds to captive-breeding facilities. I also would have thought the general theming wise that Dvur would select some of the African vulture species. Plenty of these require conservation breeding attention.
Well, at least according to wiki, Griffon vultures are to be found in (north) Africa also (while mostly living in Eurasia, truth), so at least geographically its fitting - not gonna argue that there could be some more interesting species to kept. Also, I am quite surprised that such "iconic african animal" as vulture is, was missing in Dvůr collection (I mean exhibits) - heck, I can´t remember when (or if!) there were some off-show vultures in Dvůr.
Dvur had vultures on exhibit in the past. The former zoo direktor Vagner imported not only heaps of ungulates from Afrika, but also some birds like flamingos or vultures in 1970s. I myself can´t remmember to see any on exhibit but there are postcards with them and older peoples recollections of them. I can´t say when last vanished from show but probably in 1990s? My consolation is hope they would gain experience in vulture husbandry and then some time in future would exchange the griffon vultures for some new, more exciting and fitting species. But first, an exhibit must be built. It is in pipelane but time schedule is unlear yet.
@Jana Are you sure the zoo doesn't plan to add other vulture species in the new area ? Maybe there will be other aviaries ? If not, it would be disappponting as you said. Suprised too. There are planty of bird shows here and there where griffon vultures are bred each year.
Completly sure? No. But the zoo keeps no other species currently and never mentioned other species so far. So we must wait and let us be (positively) surprised.
A new species recently arrived at the zoo: African bush viper (Atheris squamigera). I am not sure whether they received a pair or just one animal. Source: Instagram of Dvůr Králové (04/02/2022) Login • Instagram
Bringing in wild zebra genes into the captive population : New project by Czech zoologists seeks to help diversify zebra populations
The new map is online and show the new birds section (on the right) with what I suppose to be the new african penguin exhibit and the greater flamingos aviary. From what I see, there is another aviary near to the flamingos one but don't know more about it. For the full size map : https://toolkit.ecn.cz/img_upload/9ac6cf8280fa9e44811499f11aac6d24/mapa_zima_2021.jpg
