At the Zoo Děčín, within the exhibition area known as Paradise Islands, the staff is thrilled about the remarkable breeding success of eight baby newts! One of the female newts laid her eggs in the substrate right inside the exhibit tank. The eggs incubated successfully without any direct supervision from zookeepers, and one day, the keeper reported discovering several hatchlings in the tank, with even more appearing in the days that followed. Typically, it is standard to move a pregnant female to a separate location for egg laying under careful supervision, or to take the clutch out of the main display tank for incubation in a controlled environment. Because the animals were quite timid when they first arrived, the breeders were unaware that the female was developing a noticeable belly, which is a clear indicator of impending egg-laying. Efforts were made to minimize interference with the exhibit to ensure that the animals felt safe and to reduce their stress levels. As a result, they were rewarded with this lovely surprise. According to online sources, baby thornbacks raised in human care, unlike their parents, tend to be fairly friendly and can learn to eat from human hands. They are also generally less prone to stress. This sentiment holds true, as the chicks have been eagerly consuming food right from the beginning, including small crickets and other insects.
Terrariology at Zoo Děčín has historically been somewhat overlooked. However, in recent years, the zoo has focused on updating the terrariums in the Paradise Islands exhibit by replacing outdated lighting systems with new, high-quality LED lights and UV lamps. These upgrades provide crucial light that helps diurnal lizards maintain proper metabolic functions. The next step involves efforts to broaden the variety of terrarium-dwelling animals being bred. Some of these newly introduced species are already visible in the exhibits, such as snapping turtles, coastal agamas, and cave anolis. Others, including the stunning daytime screech owls known as dasia emeralds, recently moved to Děčín Zoo from Ostrava Zoo at the beginning of this year, are still in the background area where they need to grow larger and have their sex determined.
Goat mandrel primarily resides in southern Vietnam and Cambodia, living in the canopy of montane rainforests. This small lizard, which has colors ranging from olive brown to dark grey, can grow up to 30 cm long, with about 17 cm being just the tail. Its weight ranges between 65 to 70 g. Males possess a distinct yellow throat pouch located under their necks, which they utilize to mark their domains. Most active during daylight, they typically spend their time lurking for food while gripping onto branches in the vegetation. The thorny lizard’s diet includes various invertebrates, especially insects and spiders. The unique name in both Czech and Latin comes from the distinctive growths on the back of its head.
