ZOO Prague will announce a competition for the design of the panda and polar bear pavilions

Prague - Prague Zoo is preparing to announce two architectural competitions at the beginning of November for exhibits for polar bears and giant pandas. The new Arctic pavilion for polar bears and seals is planned to be established in the climatically favorable northwestern part of the garden. A new exhibit for giant pandas, if the animals can be obtained, is planned to be built in the place of the current polar bear exhibit. This was stated today by the zoo's management at a meeting with journalists.

“Polar bears are in a facility that is over 80 years old and completely inadequate, furthermore located on a south-facing slope,” said the director of Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek. In case the zoo acquires giant pandas from China, it would like to collaborate with the city administration to build a parking garage. To obtain the attractive and strictly protected pandas, it is necessary for a request to be made by the president or prime minister, Bobek noted.

Regarding current investment projects, the new version of the Gaston restaurant should be completed first, followed by the Rákos pavilion for exotic birds, which already has its rough construction finished at a cost of over 28 million crowns. Next is the exhibit for Australian fauna, which ideally could be completed in 2018.

The opening date of the planned gorilla pavilion is likely to be postponed due to disputes with the local district of Troja. “The gorilla pavilion was supposed to be under construction already. There are problems with the local district of Troja, so we can talk about (opening) in 2019 or 2020,” noted Bobek. The Arctic pavilion could also be opened around the same time; ideally, according to Bobek, the panda pavilion could be opened in 2021. “These are very optimistic considerations,” he added.

The costs for the new gorilla pavilion are expected to reach 121 million crowns. According to zoo management, the construction is designed to not disrupt the landscape of Troja and the surrounding area of Sklenářky. However, the local district of Prague-Troja opposes the proposal. It criticizes the threefold expansion of the pavilion, unresolved parking issues, and that it will encroach on the nature park. However, a petition in support of the construction has been created, under which more than 2,000 people have signed as of today.

The current gorilla pavilion is located at the lowest point of the zoo and cannot be protected from flooding. Instead of gorillas, other animals that can be evacuated should be placed there. “Unfortunately, gorillas cannot be evacuated,” noted Bobek. He stated that the proposed location is the only place where gorillas can be kept.

In the next five years, the zoo plans to invest up to 838.6 million crowns. Deputy Mayor Petr Dolínek stated today that the city intends to invest in the area around the zoo, particularly for parking. A potential solution could be a catchment parking lot near the Blanka tunnel. Bobek pointed out the intention to have a tram stop near the new pavilions. This would create an attractive entrance to the zoo and alleviate traffic in parts of Troja.