Hi Zoochatters, I’m heading off to central Europe in a couple of weeks to revisit some of my favourite collections and visit a few brand new ones. My main reasons for sharing this are 1) for any general advice anyone might want to give, and 2) in case anybody wants to meet up – I’m travelling solo for most of the trip, so do let me know if our timelines coincide. I’ll also try to update the thread daily as to my progress, if anyone’s interested. Friday 24th March – arrive in Prague, non-zoo-related day ☹ Saturday 25th March – Prague Zoo for the 3rd time, with partner in tow. Hoping to see baby pangolin (if it’s on show), Philippine palm civet (same), and shoebill Sunday 26th March – Plzen Zoo for 2nd time. Hoping to see spider-tailed viper, palm civet, Siberian flying squirrel, lowland paca, and a few others I missed last time Monday 27th March – Zoo Děčín for 1st time. Hoping to see mink, stone marten, badger, wolverine, Kamchatka bear, East Caucasian tur, magnificent bird-of-paradise, and other specialties Tuesday 28th to Wednesday 29th March - Dvůr Králové, staying in hotel on-site, 1st time. Hoping to see springhare, lesser kudu, putty-nosed monkey, red-necked gazelle, and other rarities Thursday 30th March – travelling to Brno Friday 31st March – Zoo Brno for 1st time. Hoping to see ferret badger, wolverine, European badger, Kamchatka bear, and others Saturday 1st April – Travel to Vienna for 1st time, visit Naturhistorisches Museum Sunday 2nd April – Tierpark Schönbrunn, hoping to see reptile and bird rarities mostly, plus hedgehog/ground squirrel/long-tongued bats, but mostly there for the history. Monday 3rd April – Haus des Meeres in morning, happy to see any new fish and herp species plus the odd unusual bird and mammal that they have. Afternoon/early evening, going to try looking for wild black-bellied hamsters and ground squirrels in the central cemetery, weather and energy depending Tuesday 4th April – Tierpark Nürnberg, hoping to see dung beetles, North African zorilla, marmots, yellow-backed duiker, dolphins, manatees, and as much else as I can in the few hours I’ll have there. Wednesday 5th April – I’ll have a few hours to look around Zoo Berlin for the 3rd time in the afternoon, as I’m staying nearby and just want another look in the bird and cat/nocturnal houses. Might squeeze in a quick visit to the dinosaur exhibition at the Museum für Naturkunde after arriving from Nuremberg Thursday 6th April – Magdeburg Zoo, desperately trying to see marbled polecat and striped vontsira after failing last year to see either Friday 7th April – Wildkatzenzentrum Felidae for the 2nd time, hoping to see striped hyaena, ichneumon, Siberian weasel, and other carnivorans, then back home. I know some of those goals are potentially unrealistic (wild hamsters, striped vontsira), and I might be out of luck with birds due to the avian flu situation, not to mention some of my targets might be off show/have left the collection. I’ve not left a lot of travelling time between cities, but not everything is set in stone (flights in and out only, at this stage). Hotels are booked but most can be switched around if anyone can convince me to make any changes at this stage. I’m a slow walker, and I don’t mind skipping commonplace species to an extent (looking for suitable fodder for my Instagram as well as my life portfolio-list, so won’t be avoiding ABCs completely). I’d appreciate any general advice as well as hints for catching my target species. Thanks!
Sadly we shall be ships passing in the night - I am visiting Vienna a little over a week before you! As regards this, you may be a shade too early in the year; however, your best bet is to skip the Zentralfriedhof and visit the Meidlinger Friedhof in the city centre, just south of Miedling railway station. The hamster population density there is significantly higher than within the central cemetery, it remains open later, and being closer to the city centre you will be able to get there more easily.
Saturday 25th of March - Prague zoo has its offical opening of season ceremony and also day when pangolin pup will be "christened" by celebs. The zoo will be busy. Palm civets are off show. Pangolin exhibit is no longer boarded-off but chances to see the baby are small. Decin is very small, you can combine it with zoo Usti nad Labem within 1 day, even if you use public transport. Or use this day for zoopark Chomutov, their collection is not stellar but I like their vibe more. Two days in Dvur Kralove, outside season, is an overkill. If you had a car, I would say use one day for Wroclaw.
Mustelid Marathon sounds great I hope you will made most of it ! Last year I made Carnivore Marathon and had some very exciting sights. The only Mustelid I am missing is the Sable in Finland. I also saw all the Malagasy Carnivores, but at different locations. Few tips in case you deviate from the initial plan. Leipzig Wildpark has three very interesting Mustelids on exhibit: Stone Marten, Pine Marten and European Mink. Ottercenter Hankensbüttel has 8 species of Mustelids! Neunkirchen zoo has Fanaloka on display already. Schönebeck ( very close to Magdeburg) has Greater Grison, European hamster and many rare rodents. Good luck with the Grandidier's Vontsiara. I managed to see them this year, but at Bede's zoo. Wildkatzenzentrum Felidae has also Banded Civet Have a great trip !
Thanks for the tips! Wasn't aware of the ceremony but that shouldn't be too much of an issue for us. I was at the zoo on the official opening of Rezervace Dja last year, which was a little annoying, but at least I was one of the first Zoochatters to visit it. I appreciate the tips - have seen other Zoochatters do similar, but I really am a slow walker, especially on hilly terrain, and want to maximise my chances of seeing the mustelids, especially as I've never seen a stone marten and the European mink eluded me at Opel Zoo a few years back. I agree, especially as the Safari Park appears closed. Still, I can take my time and rest, maximising my chances to see all the carnivores there. Excellent! I'm jealous, but I should be in with a chance of seeing at least one brand new member of my favourite mammalian family, I hope! I planned to visit there last year but had to adapt my schedule at the last minute so had one less day in Leipzig than I planned, and opted to spend all day at Zoo Leipzig. I also considered this place last time I was in Germany but I think I will combine it with Hamburg and Walsrode next time. I was lucky enough to see Fanaloka at Rare Species Conservation Centre in 2014, but would of course love to see it again one day. Without a car, it would be a big hassle for me. I've seen greater grison at Hamerton, Wildkatzenzentrum Felidae, and Donnersberg, although it is probably my absolute favourite mustelid (has been since I first heard of it as a child), so I must visit one day somehow. Thanks! It was off-show of course last year. I was lucky enough to see it very well on my first visit. The guide/keeper allowed me into the exhibit to photograph it. Thank you! Incidentally, I chose the Mustelidae as my specialist subject when I appeared on UK quiz show Mastermind:
It takes at least five to six hours to get from Vienna to Nuremberg. I guess you're leaving (very) early in the morning?
Yes, I plan to take the 06:49 train, arriving at 11:27. I know it only allows half a day, but closing at 6 and concentrating on a few target species, I should make it.
I have seen hamsters early April in Vienna, so you do have a good chance I would say to see some, but probably not all will be awake yet...
I will warn - when I went to this place in 2022, the Siberian Weasels were rather elusive - didn't catch any glimpse at all ! I believe the other two should be fine, though.
It's a pretty large zoo, so depending on your precise targets other than the Saharan Weasel you may find it a bit rough with all the walking back and forth!
I'm old enough to remember when the DB was almost as punctual as the Swiss one. Now they are not even a shadow of what they used to be...*sad headshake*
Would be very nice to see but would not be the first time, having seen one on my first visit to Hamerton in 2010. The elusiveness of mustelids just adds to their allure, I think. That's OK I'll stick close to the desert house. I'm prepared for disappointment though, from weather, my own stamina, trains etc.
Well done, Mo. I got nearly all of the mustelid questions correct. The other subjects were much harder. I thought that some of your questions were very long and I wonder if some of the contestants knew the answer before the question ended. Sorry, Mo, Phoebe is/was better looking.
They were rather long, yes. Still, it was a fun experience and I'm proud of coming second by such a close margin. And oi, cheeky!
Thanks, Mo. You did well. I wonder if anyone times the questions as some are much longer than others.
