Prague Zoo Research Articles

Methodological Approach to Assessing International Logistics Management in Commercial Activities in The Recreational Field: Innovations in Modeling

The main purpose of the study is to optimize the logistics systems of our chosen recreational area in the context of attracting new international tourist flows in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The object of the study is the logistics system of our chosen recreational area - the Prague Zoo. The scientific task of the study is to determine the logical potential of the recreational zone, including indicators that influence the sustainable development of the recreational zone. The research methodology includes the use of a multivariate mathematical and statistical method. As a result of the study, a strategy for optimizing logistics systems to attract international tourists was proposed, while adhering to the principles of sustainable development. Despite this, the work has its limitations. Most of them are due to the fact that the Prague Zoo was chosen as the object of study, its commerce, logistics system and the impact of the latter on sustainable development. All these characteristics may be good for other recreational areas. The prospect of further research will be to expand the analysis of other recreational areas, and their commercial and logistics systems. In addition, further research will be aimed at more detailed development of measures to attract international tourists to recreational areas, while maintaining the implementation of the principles of sustainable development.

Beauty ranking of mammalian species kept in the Prague Zoo: does beauty of animals increase the respondents' willingness to protect them?

Aesthetic preferences for animals correspond with the species' presence in the worldwide zoos and influence the conservation priorities. Here, we investigated the relationship between the willingness of respondents to protect mammals and some attributed characteristics such as their aesthetic beauty. Further, several methodological aspects of measuring mammalian beauty were assessed. Animal beauty was associated not only with the respondents' willingness to protect the species but also with its attributed dangerousness and usefulness. We found that the most preferred animals were carnivores and ungulates, whilst smaller species of rodents and afrosoricids were unpopular. The main characteristics determining that an animal will be ranked as beautiful were complex fur pattern and body shape. We demonstrated that the position of mammalian species along the 'beauty' axis is surprisingly stable, no matter the form (illustrations vs photographs), context of stimulus presentation (several number of stimuli per family vs one randomly selected species per family), or the method of beauty evaluation (relative order vs Likert's scale).

Giraffe nursing behaviour reflects environmental conditions

Nursing behaviour is one component of mammalian life history strategy that demonstrates context-dependent flexibility within species. Wild giraffes live in groups and feed themselves over large area. In the zoo, giraffes are kept in enclosures with abundant food resources. We aimed to analyse whether the nursing behaviour of giraffes differs between the zoo and nature reserve and discuss which factor (food intake, presence of predators, population density) can explain the difference. We observed seven and four female–calf pairs in the Bandia reserve, Senegal, and in Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, respectively. Nursing bouts were less frequent and longer and calves were less successful in nursing solicitations in the reserve, as females there seemed to be more selective for nursing times and locations, likely due to presence of predators and differences in food intake. Allonursing occurred more frequently in the zoo which can be attributed to higher population density in captive conditions.

Body weight, dentition and longevity in Equus przewalskii kept in the Prague Zoo (Perissodactyla: Equidae)

Abstract The survival rate in ungulates is limited by tooth-abrasion that makes it difficult for senescent individuals to feed effectively. I examined correlation between age, body weight and dentition condition in the Przewalski’s horses (Equus przewalskii) kept in the Prague Zoo. The body weight of thirty adult horses aged 2–25 years ranged 250–300 kg. The individuals older than 30 years showed a significant loss in body weight up to one third of the normal condition. However, the weight loss was less pronounced in alpha individuals. For example, the stallion “Uran” weighted 270 kg even after he reached the age of 30 years. The weight loss in senescent individuals was generally correlated with pathological changes in dentition caused by gradual abrasion of the teeth. On the contrary, only six individuals (less than 3%) kept in the Prague Zoo lived longer than 30 years, although the mare “Verona” reached the age of almost 37 years which is the highest age ever recorded in the Przewalski’s horse. Anyway, the tooth-abrasion is an important factor leading to body weight loss in the majority of the senescent Przewalski’s horses.

The weight of Rothschild giraffe-Is it really well known?

Despite being regularly bred in zoos, giraffes remain a challenge, especially in terms of feeding. Assessment of factors influencing growth and weight changes during ontogeny, as well as analysis of weight fluctuations in adult individuals, may become a critical point in captive diet evaluation. Knowledge about weight is a crucial husbandry tool; however, such data are rarely acquired. Using a unique dataset from regularly weighed Rothschild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) from Prague zoo, we determined the growth functions of male and female giraffes and calculated weight gains during giraffe ontogeny. The mean weights of adult males and females were 1307 ± 52 and 835 ± 45 kg, respectively confirming the large overall dimensions of G. c. rothschildi in comparison with other giraffe subspecies. As the giraffe is a polygynous species showing considerable sexual dimorphism, we expected male calves to have larger first weights and faster growth during the most intensive period of maternal care. Growth rates and daily weight gains were higher in males than in females during the whole postnatal period. Males grew faster and longer than females. However, differences in weight between males and females appeared as late as after 1 year of age. The weight of adult males and non-pregnant adult females fluctuated significantly across seasons, being the highest during the autumn and winter months, respectively which may reflect the different effects of sexual activity and feeding ratios in males and females. Zoo Biol. 35:423-431, 2016. © Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The first description of dominance hierarchy in captive giraffe: not loose and egalitarian, but clear and linear.

Wild giraffes live in extensive groups in the fission fusion system, maintaining long social distances and loose social bonds. Within these groups, resources are widely distributed, agonistic encounters are scarce and the dominance hierarchy was reported in males only, while never deeply analysed. In captivity, the possibility to maintain inter-individual distances is limited and part of the resources is not evenly distributed. Consequently, we suggest that agonistic encounters should be more frequent, leading to the establishment of the dominance hierarchy. Based on the differences in resource-holding potential, we suggested that the rank of an individual would be affected by age and sex. Based on hypotheses of prior ownership, we tested whether rank was positively affected by the time spent in a herd and whether it was stable in adult females, which were present long-term in the same herd. We originally monitored four herds of Rothschild giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildii) in Dvůr Králové zoo (n = 8), Liberec zoo (n = 6), and two herds in Prague zoo: Prague 1 (n = 8) and Prague 2 (n = 9). The Prague 1 and Prague 2 herds were then combined and the resulting fifth herd was observed over three consecutive years (2009, 2010, and 2011) (n = 14, 13, and 14, respectively). We revealed a significantly linear hierarchy in Dvůr Králové, Prague 2 and in the combined herd in Prague. Rank was significantly affected by age in all herds; older individuals dominated the younger ones. In females, rank was positively affected by the time spent in the herd and adult females in Prague maintained their rank during three consecutive years. This study represents the first analysis of the dominance hierarchy in the captive giraffe, and discusses the behavioural flexibility of the social structure in response to monopolisable resources in a captive environment.

Protecting and managing a local population of the European Green lizard Lacerta viridis at the Prague Zoo, Czech Republic

The grounds of Prague Zoo are home to an important population of the European Green lizard Lacerta viridis, which is one of the most threatened species in the Czech Republic. Although generally thought of as common across some of its range, the Green lizard is recorded as critically endangered by legislative regulations in the Czech Republic and is on local Red Data Lists in Germany, although the species is thought to be extinct in other parts of its range. Conservation management is necessary to guarantee the survival of the Green lizard population at Prague Zoo and to coordinate conservation measures with the development of the Zoo site. A detailed conservation‐research study was carried out on a model population at the ‘Tiché údolí’ site to obtain the necessary knowledge to establish an appropriate management programme for the Green lizard population at the Zoo. A comprehensive action plan for European Green lizard conservation will be launched at Prague Zoo in 2015.

Ontogeny of Sexual Size Dimorphism in Monitor Lizards: Males Grow for a Longer Period, but not at a Faster Rate

Monitor lizards belong to the largest and the most sexually dimorphic lizards in terms of size, making this group an ideal model for studies analyzing ontogenetic causes of sexual dimorphism. Understanding of these ontogenetic factors is essential to the current discussion concerning patterns of sexual dimorphism in animals. We examined the ontogenetic trajectories of body weight and snout-vent length to analyze the emergence of sexual size dimorphism. Experimental animals were 22 males and 13 females of mangrove-dwelling monitors (Varanus indicus) hatched at the Prague Zoo. They were regularly weighed and measured up to the age of 33-40 months, and subsequently sexed by ultrasonographic imaging. The logistic growth equation was used to describe and analyze the observed growth patterns. Our results confirm considerable sexual size dimorphism in the mangrove monitor. The mean asymptotic body weight of males was nearly three times higher than that of females. As the body size of male and female hatchlings is almost equal, and the growth rate parameter (K) of the logistic growth equation as well as the absolute growth rate up to the age of 12 months do not differ between the sexes, size differences between fully grown males and females should be attributed to timing of the postnatal growth. Males continue to grow several months after they reach the age when the growth of females is already reduced. Therefore, the sexual size dimorphism emerges and sharply increases at this period.

The Occurrence and Ape‐to‐Ape Transmission of the Entodiniomorphid Ciliate Troglodytella abrassarti in Captive Gorillas

Entodiniomorphid ciliates are often present in the colons of wild apes. In captive apes the infection tends to gradually disappear, with the exception of Troglodytella abrassarti. We used fecal examinations to screen the gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) in European (Czech Republic, UK) and Australian Zoos to explore the ape-to-ape transmission pattern of T. abrassarti. Gorillas from two out of three European Zoos were positive for T. abrassarti, while gorillas from the Australian Zoo were negative. We documented a horizontal transmission of T. abrassarti to a non-infected adult gorilla introduced into a Troglodytella-positive group in the Prague Zoo and traced the origin of the ciliate infection to the Paignton Zoo (UK) using serial fecal examinations. During this study, two infant gorillas born in the Prague Zoo (CZ) first became positive for T. abrassarti at the age of 9 mo. Ciliate morphology and the sequencing of the small subunit rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer rDNA spacer region revealed that T. abrassarti affects both captive gorillas and chimpanzees. We conclude that zoo transport plays a major role in the distribution of T. abrassarti among captive gorillas.

Magnesium Concentration in Serum and Erythrocytes of Ruminants, Perissodactyla and Primates in the Prague ZOO

home Acta Veterinaria Brno Journal of the University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Czech Republic Search:

Breeding of Common musk turtles, Sternotherus odoratus at Prague Zoo

Breeding of Common musk turtles, <i>Sternotherus odoratus</i> at Prague Zoo

Breeding the Great house gecko Gekko gecko at Prague Zoo

International Zoo YearbookVolume 9, Issue 1 p. 37-39 Breeding the Great house gecko Gekko gecko at Prague Zoo OTAKAR BRODKÝ, OTAKAR BRODKÝ Zoologicka zahrada Praha, Prague, CzechoslovakiaSearch for more papers by this author OTAKAR BRODKÝ, OTAKAR BRODKÝ Zoologicka zahrada Praha, Prague, CzechoslovakiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1969 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1969.tb02601.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Citing Literature Volume9, Issue1January 1969Pages 37-39 RelatedInformation

Studbooks for rare species of wild animals in captivity

The main purpose of maintaining studbooks for rare species of animals in captivity is to facilitate the planned breeding of these species. Unless studbooks are kept it is extremely difficult to know when prolonged inbreeding is occurring, since the individual identity of the animal is often lost when it is exchanged or sold. Both the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources) and the I UDZG (International Union of Directors of Zoological Gardens) have recommended that new studbooks should be started for rare animal species in captivity.In order to prevent confusion it has been agreed by the IUCN and the IUDZG that the central organisation of all studbooks should be the responsibility of the IUCN'S Zoo Liaison Committee. The Zoo Liaison Committee is a committee of the IUCN'S Survival Service Commission. Its members are zoo directors, its Chairman is Dr W. Windecker (director of Cologne Zoo) and its Secretary is Lady Medway (c/o School of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia). Anyone wishing to start a studbook for a rare animal species should write to the Secretary of the Zoo Liaison Committee.It has also been agreed by the IUCN and the IUDZG that all new studbooks should follow certain rules and recommendations. These rules and recommendations, listed below, were drawn up by the Secretary of the Zoo Liaison Committee in consultation with Dr Erna Mohr and Dr Zdenek Veselovsky, the foremost authorities on rare animal studbooks. It is recommended that anyone wishing to maintain a studbook for a rare species should read the following papers:Mohr, E. (1968): Studbooks for animals in captivity. International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 8, pp. 159–166.Mohr, E. (1967): The studbook of the European bison Bison bonasus. International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 7, pp. 187–188.Veselovsky, Z., and Volf, J. (1965): Breeding and care of rare Asian ungulates at Prague Zoo. International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 5, pp. 28–37.Volf, J. (1967): Studbook of the Przewalski horse Equus przewalskii. International Zoo Yearbook, Volume 7, p. 185.A list of rare animal studbooks, officially endorsed by the IUCN'S Zoo Liaison Committee, is given below.

Breeding group of gorals Nemorhaedus goral at Prague Zoo

Breeding group of gorals <i>Nemorhaedus goral</i> at Prague Zoo

A note on the gestation period and rearing of young in the leopard Panthera pardus at Prague Zoo

a note on the gestation period and rearing of young in the leopard <i>Panthera pardus</i> at Prague Zoo