Prague Zoo delights animals with unsold Christmas trees

Today and tomorrow, the Christmas trees that were left on the stalls of the vendors in the Prague Zoo in Troja will blossom. More than ten species of animals will receive thematic enrichment during special guided feeding sessions. For example, for elephants, bison, bison, elk, giraffes or porcupines, the unsold conifers are not only a delicacy but also great entertainment. The trees are also explored by the playful and curious parrots of the kea monsters and played with by the golden pigs, the African puppies of the Dja Reserve.

The greatest joy traditionally reigns in the elephant pavilion. Elephants and baby elephants literally tug at the conifers. The baby elephants, unlike their mothers, do not eat the trees yet, but find them great fun. They get them both days at noon. The gorillas don't eat the trees either, but they have a lot of fun with them. The caretakers decorate the trees with fruits and vegetables and the primates have fun. The bison have fun by throwing the Christmas trees up in the air. Bison use the trees for scratching and wrestling.

Even carnivores will not come short. The breeders will attract the bear devils with quails and the Cape honey badgers will be waiting for trees decorated with wicker balls with meat. For the very first time, the twin polar bears Gregor and Aleut will receive Christmas trees with apples or calamari.

Various types of enrichment, i.e. enriching or diversifying the animals' lives with unusual toys or food, encourage animals to play, explore or discover, which is important for their psychological, mental and social well-being and consequently has a positive effect on their health. 
 
Program:
Monday
10.00 meeting at the honey badgers - Africa up close
10.30 meeting at the Nestors - outdoor aviary of the Rákos Pavilion
12.00 meeting at the elephants - Valley of the Elephants
12.30 meeting at the giraffes - African House
13.00 meeting at the bison - Plains
14.00 meeting at the puppies - Booking Dja
14.30 meeting at the wombats - Darwin's Crater
Tuesday
10.30 meeting at the gorillas - Méfou Centre
12.00 meeting at the elephants - Valley of the Elephants
12.30 meeting at the zebra - African House
13.00 meeting at the bison - Plains
13.30 meeting at the polar bears - Polar bears
14.30 meeting at the woodpeckers - Darwin's Crater
15.00 meeting at the porcupines - nopposite the Pavilion of Beasts and Reptiles

The supply of Christmas trees will last at Zoo Prague for days to come, so you can look forward to an interesting spectacle. The trees that the zoo does not use as food will also be used in bird aviaries as natural shelters and nesting places for birds. The zoo does not accept used trees from households. This is primarily for the safety of the animals, as these trees may contain remnants of metal hooks or ornaments. 
 
Come and see the guided feeding even in winter
However, you can also come to the zoo for the popular guided feeding sessions, which are also held in the winter season until the end of March 2025, always on weekends or public holidays. The animals are most active at feeding time, so you can enjoy the unusual but extremely interesting behaviour of selected animals at 14 locations in the zoo. For example, at 10 am the feeding of the voles takes place in the African House, at 1 pm the elephants and from 3:30 pm the nuthatches take their turn. The outdoor programme takes place only in good weather.

Wednesday to Friday 1 to 3 January 2025 In addition, there will be special guided feedings at Zoo Prague, complete with competition questions for young visitors (after each guided feeding, a competition question will be asked based on the guide's interpretation - children who answer correctly or at least actively participate will receive a small prize).

New Year's guided feedings:
10.30 gorillas (Méfou Centre)
11.00 Penguins and Pintails (Penguin Pavilion)
12.30 elephants (Valley of the Elephants)
13.00 Great Turtles (Great Turtle Pavilion)
13.00 horses of Przewalski (Gobi)
13.30 North American Otters (North American Otters)
14.15 orangutans (Indonesian jungle)
15.00 gorillas (Booking Dja)
13.30 Demonstration of sea lion training (Sea lions) except Friday

Admission is $100 until January 3.

Throughout the Christmas holidays, i.e. from Monday 23 December to Friday 3 January, the entrance fee for all visitors will be only CZK 100. These discounted tickets will only be available for purchase at the ticket offices at all four entrances to Zoo Prague and cannot be purchased online. The discount also applies to four-legged pets (it does not apply to parking fees and the Light Zoo). For seniors over 70 years of age, a symbolic admission fee of CZK 1 remains valid.

Prague Zoo/ Photo Petr Hamerník/ Gnews.cz - HeK