Ostrava Zoo opened a modern Evolution Pavilion

Ostrava - The Ostrava Zoo today opened its new Pavilion of Evolution. The modern exhibition currently houses a total of 194 animals of 22 species. The biggest attractions for visitors are likely to be the chimpanzees and the rare Diana monkeys, which are threatened with extinction in the wild. According to the keepers, the primates, who moved into the pavilion several months before its opening, adapted to the new environment without any problems.
    "We moved our four female chimpanzees at the beginning of January, and they are surprisingly adjusting very well; we are pleasantly surprised at how much they like it here and how they utilize all the spaces without fear. We were worried that the adaptation would take much longer," said zoologist Jana Pluháčková to ČTK.
    The chimpanzees previously occupied a non-compliant facility. They now have access to several times larger spaces, and the zoo expects that the group could grow to ten to 15 individuals in the future, with negotiations already underway for the arrival of a new male. According to the zoologist, the chimpanzees particularly appreciate that they can climb on high logs, just like in nature, from which they have a vantage point.
    "We have also cooperated with the firefighters from Moravian-Silesia, who donated their fire hoses, from which we wove hammocks (hanging beds). We try to hang them at different heights so the space is very varied and they can choose what they want to use," Pluháčková stated. The chimpanzees have taken a liking to the tunnels connecting the exhibition to the back bedrooms.
    According to chimpanzee keeper Dagmar Marková, the animals are satisfied. "In the back area, they have five large bedrooms with three tunnels passing through, a large indoor exhibition, and a big outdoor natural enclosure. They have artificial trees, ropes, and natural bark on the ground," Marková noted. An appreciated addition for the chimpanzees is the termite mound, into which the keepers put porridge that the animals then try to retrieve in various ways.
    The Diana monkeys also transitioned to the new environment without issues. Similar to the Richmond Zoo in Virginia, the Ostrava Zoo is home to the largest group of these rare African monkeys. "They adapted incredibly quickly; they enjoy the artificial high trees and the natural enclosure where they find plenty of food, such as insects, leaves, and bark from various trees. They immediately accepted the space as their own," said keeper Jana Kanichová.
    According to the zoo director, Petr Čolas, the Pavilion of Evolution includes not only spacious outdoor and indoor areas for primates but also three large tanks with various fish, a bird aviary, and many smaller supplementary terrariums for other animals. The facilities for visitors have also improved, as they will find spacious restrooms, an elevator, and seating in the pavilion.
    The Pavilion of Evolution is the largest and most expensive building in the zoo’s more than sixty-year history. The construction of the modern exhibition, which was created by remodeling the former pavilion for waterfowl, cost 143 million.