That is easier said and written from your armchair though as you should also be aware North Bohemia is the industrial heartland of Czech Republic and very much an impoverished province. When you travel in and around Usti and Labem you cannot escape the sense of industrial deprivation and less affluent parts of the Republic. All the same, the Usti Municipality has certainly not supported the local sprawling in acres zoo, in the main by making bad decisions on the managerial side of things (see what I wrote above for details) and not making effective use of local - available - finance to improve the zoo for the local community.
Kifaru: I know, or, better to say, understand, that Ustí really isn´t Prague, for example, and it has naturally other priorities and bigger problems than zoo... But I probably rather don´t want to understand how its leadership want to continue with its (at least partially understandable) policy toward zoo, while keeping apes, elephants and other "expensive" animals in...
In 6 to 9 months, both orangutan females currently present in Usti will be moved to Auckland Zoo as they are valuable for the breeding programme and current conditions in Ustí are insufficient for keeping them there. Usti is currently preparing documentation for new ape house. When the construction will be finished, new pair is already promised by curator - male Sungay (Madrid) and female Daya (Rhenen)
I used the zoo's wording even though they pretty much had to use it as post styled like: "The orangs are going to go and we are not sure if they ever return." wouldn't go well with the public. Even this post will eventually generate a big chunk of criticism
Thee chicks of wrinkled hornbill have left the nesting box recently. Unfortunately, they live in inaccessible part of the zoo so visitors can´t see them.
More extremely upsetting news from Usti: The latest checkup of zoo's finances showed, that from 111 issues found during the 2018 checkup only 8% (or 9 issues), were fixed, and what is worse, 128 new issues were found. Going through the protocol from the checkup, some issues are minor and almost laughable (but must be reported of course), but some are serious. The City council now recommended sacking of zoo's director, that will be further discussed in coming days/weeks.
Now it's official, Roman Končel was sacked as a director...he is now 6th director since 2005, 3 of them lasted in function just around year or so... The zoo is totally screwed...
Not a very effective way for the Municipality to sack every director 1-3 years into the job. It is making an easy scapegoat of an issue that has to do with funding, municipality and their inadequacy (municipality that is ...). I wonder if the Usti locals and zoo visitors now get why their zoo is not moving forward and plans keep being just plans. It is a dead end street. Who will take stock and fire city authorities? What makes it extra sad is that the zoo is in dire need of being developed and old exhibits replaced with more exciting new ones. Renovations or new areas being developed would be the best way to attract both funding and visitors to the Usti Zoo.
So, the Municipality of Ústí has officially opened the procedure to select a new zoo director. People with interest are urged to send a CV. Approval of final candidate / start of job should be in April. But be warned, this is a post for a masochist. The zoo (160.000 attendance) is in dire need of a complete overhaul but funds available are pretty low. Its EAZA membership must be defended within less than 1 year and that will be an uphill battle. The region is impoverished, the municipality council a freak show, zoo personel forms various warring cliques, the zoo areal has no parking spots, finances were horrific even before the covid-era started. Right now, the empty former rhino exhibit is in slow overhaul. Demolition of waterfowl house and building of new bird house has been stopped because needed funds are twice as high as funds available. End of elephant keeping is pending, but no zoo is willing/has space to accept the last cow yet. Orangs are going to be exported this year. Remaining big sore spot identified by EAZA control visit is monkey house and that must be solved asap.
About monkey house: new temporary director is planning outdoor paddock for mandrills (how close its to realisation I don´t know)
Old news In November a female Eastern Atlantic harbour seal from Le Pal Zoo (France) arrived at the zoo. They hope to start breeding again with this species. Source: Instagram of Zoo Usti nad Labem (24/11/2020) Login • Instagram
There are two candidates for director post - Petr Fejk (former prague zoo director) and Ilona Pšenkova (former Ústí zoologist), both of them published their development concepts. It will shall be fifth or sixth change on that post in last ten years
By now politicians should have had the guts to say they could not care less about Usti Zoo or spending any funds on renovations and new projects that are badly needed. A director change will not bring anything meaningful, but convenient for City Hall nonetheless.
So former zoologist, Ilona Pšenková it is (despite wishes of comission and some directors of european zoos, who supported her opponent) As Kifaru already said, it probably doesn´t matter that much...
On the last day of June 15-year old female Bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata) Lucka gave birth. This is her eighth child, she and the 8-year old male originally came from a private zoo in Jockdorf (Germany). Source: Instagram of Zoo Usti nad Labem (18/07/2021) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRdeMZ9CyHo/
Have forgotten to mention that the former rhino exhibit has been refurbished, that asphalt layer removed and the new inhabitants are ostriches and watussi cattle. I like the new look of it even if I personally don´t like sand-covered paddocs usually. A few pics
