Exciting News: Prague Zoo Unveils Plans for New Arctic Pavilion to Welcome Polar Bears and Seals!

Prague Zoo has officially kicked off the construction of a brand-new Arctic pavilion, which will showcase cutting-edge habitats for both polar bears and harbour seals.

This exciting development was revealed by Pavel Brandl, the curator responsible for mammal breeding, during the zoo’s 94th season opening on Saturday. The ceremony included a special event marking the laying of the foundation stone for the upcoming Arctic exhibition complex.

The pavilion will feature three distinct enclosures: one designed with a watercourse specifically for polar bears, along with two enclosures dedicated to harbour seals. Miroslav Bobek, the zoo’s director, stated that this facility will provide visitors with an extraordinary underwater perspective of the bears, significantly enhancing both the educational and observational experience.

Bobek highlighted that the new pavilion is in line with the most recent advancements in polar bear care, while also continuing Prague Zoo’s long-standing legacy of successfully breeding these magnificent animals. The zoo has been home to polar bears since 1932, and it made history in 1942 by being the first in the world to successfully rear a polar bear cub through artificial means.

Despite these important achievements, the process of breeding polar bears continues to be complicated. In some cases, female bears may reject their cubs or even harm them, and creating a suitable artificial milk substitute for rearing poses a substantial challenge.

The construction is projected to take approximately three years and will cost around 755 million CZK, which is significantly lower than the original estimate of over one billion CZK.

Covering an area of 8,000 square meters in the northwest part of the zoo near Gočárový domů, the Arctic complex will not only house animal enclosures but will also include visitor-friendly amenities such as a restaurant and various other facilities.

In addition to the announcement about the Arctic pavilion, Prague Zoo also launched a new exhibit featuring critically endangered lobsters, dubbed Ball’s Pyramid. This name is inspired by the world’s tallest sea stack, where this unique species was first identified in the 1960s.

The zoo has also rolled out an engaging interactive programme for visitors, featuring options like face painting at the Gočár Houses and Bororo Reservation, an Arctic-themed play area, as well as guided feeding sessions.

Guests are invited to observe the feeding routines of meerkats, ring-tailed lemurs, and South African sea lions, which even includes their well-received veterinary training demonstrations.