https://safaripark.cz/
City: Dvur Kralove
Country: Czech Republic
Province: Hradec Králové Region
Opend 09.05.1946
Species 320
You meet especially african animals like the fossa, okapis and northern whithe rhinos (guess the only ones outside Africa). And you even can come on a night safari
Dvůr Králové Zoo was established on the premises of a former private park boasting a beautiful building - a copy of a Renaissance castle close to Vienna. Richard Neumann, a factory owner, had the house built in 1905. After nationalisation of the textile industry in 1945, the town’s Vlastivedné museum (history museum) was set up in the mansion. Over time, cages containing animal species from Europe were erected which became a part of the museum - the origins of the zoo today. Covering an area of 6.5 hectares, the zoological garden was formally opened to the public on 9 May 1946. Josef Fabián was the zoo’s first manager and the museum curator at this time, holding these posts from 1946 to 1953. Surprisingly, all the cages and enclosures had to be constructed by zoo personnel, particularly during the first few decades in the zoo’s history. Most significantly, an old greenhouse for palm trees was transformed into the Tropical House, housing primates, birds, and Rémus, the first lion at Dvůr Králové. The first real development of the zoo occurred under František Císařovský, the zoo’s director in 1956 – 1965. Although a lot of construction work was still carried out by staff, the first large modern buildings such as the terrarium, polar bear enclosure, carnivore houses, elephant house and others were put up. In total, the zoo’s grounds increased to 28 ha and the collection was added to with a number of rare and exotic species. At the same time, visitor numbers went up, reaching about 250,000 a year and dramatically raising the profile of Dvůr Králové Zoo amongst other zoos in Czechoslovakia. The ’70s were an important time for the zoo, as 8 expeditions were organised to a number of African countries, resulting in around 2000 animals being brought into the collection. This focus on African animals was the brainchild of Josef Vágner (Dipl. Ing. ,CSc.), the zoo’s director between 1965 and 1983. These were largely hoofed animals along with some carnivores, primates, and reptiles. The creatures formed the basis for unique breeding pairs and groups that made the zoo one of Europe’s most important gene banks for numerous African ungulate mammals. Jiří Svoboda (Dipl. Ing.), the director of the zoo in 1984 – 1986, ushered in a period of intense modernisation, as well as taking charge of updating displays at the zoo. He was responsible for changing exhibits and enclosures so as to imitate natural habitats, getting rid of iron barriers, and landscaping the grounds to help conceal buildings and fencing with palisades and greenery. He also had many buildings and structures erected, which later led to the opening of the African Safari Park to the public under Pavel Suk (DVM), the zoo’s director in 1988 – 1990, on 8 May 1989. Recently, a successful breeding programme of rhinos, giraffes, zebras, buffalos, and many antelope species at Dvůr Králové Zoo has occurred under the management of Dana Holečková (Dr.Sc.), the results of which are both extraordinary and globally important. Due to its number of animals, the zoo ranks amongst the largest, best-known and most famous zoological parks in the Czech Republic. Moreover, it boasts the greatest number of African species in Europe, and is considered by some as one of the most beautiful zoos in the world. It is unique in the Czech Republic thanks to the African Safari Park, where visitors can ride through herds of free-ranging animals in special safari buses. This usually takes place from mid-May through to the end of September. Since 2003, double deck buses have been used for this purpose.
Last visited 2012
Phone number 499 311 295
Address: ZOO Dvůr Králové a. s., Štefánikova 1029, 544 01 Dvůr Králové
E-mail: servis.zoo@zoodvurkralove.cz
Open : minimum 9am-4pm
Entrace fee:
Annual ticket
*Valid only for the zoo for one registratet person, not valid for the Safari
For kids: Playgrounds and pettingarea
Food: The Zoo has a place where you can get a snack
Taking photos: Is allowed, if publiciesed, please mention the zoo on your homepage
After have been paying the entrance we first se the islands for the ring-tailed lemur. Turning left we go through a big walk through aviary with ducks and abdim storcks. Giong on the other side in to the birdhouse, where you meet the first big ape, the Orang Utan and of course a lot of birds, like the toucans and congo peacock. Turning left again we have the castle, with a dinosaur exhibition. Outside againg we finde the petting zoo, with goats and shetland ponys. Then we look at the flamingos and pelicans, both in a seperate aviary. Going back to the birdhouse and across it we finde the aquarium with fish and reptiles. Outside again we se the first African ungulates, like the scimtered oryx and the giraffe. This area is also the home for african elephants. Then we meet the warthog and the pygmy hippo, on the other side we have the African Ape house, home for gorillas and chimpanzees. Passing the buffalos we have reached the point where the Safaribus is driving from. On the safari you meet different species of waterbucks, wilderbeest, the Addax, the Nyala and roan antilopes among others. Back at the beginning we se the cape buffalo and afterwards the big rhino collection, where the norther white rhino are the biggest rarety of the zoo - only 8 speciements are on the planet at the moment. Now we look at 3 big savannahs for antilopes, these and the safari only are open in june-september. In this area we also find the lions. Now again heading to the point where the bus is taking of from we meet the Meerkats, and the passing the buffalos un til the pygmy hippo, where we turn left. The first house we meet is for Bongos and Okapis. The last house we look at the carnivore house with amur tigers, persian leopards, cheetahs, several hyenas like the rare shown brown hyena and the cute bat-eared fox. Befor heading to the exit , we look at some parots.
DE: Dieser grossartige Zoo ist weltweit bekannt für seinen bestand von Afrikanischen Tieren, aber hat auch ein gutes aquarium, ein schönes vogelhaus und die interessanten Orang Utans. Von Afrikanischen seltenheiten giebt es ua Nördliche Breitmaulnashörner und Braune Hyänen
DK: Denne frmragende have er verdenskendt pga deres samling af afrikanske dyr. Men der er også et spendende aquarium og fuglehus samt nogle asiatiske arter her, som orangutanen. Af afrikanske sjældne skal nævnes det nordlige hvide næshorn og den brune hyæne.
