Due to their extraordinary size, strength, intelligence and willingness to cooperate with people, elephants have been irreplaceable helpers in Asia for millennia. Today, they are threatened mainly by the loss of their natural habitat. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
A symbol of strength, wisdom, and majesty – on Saturday, Prague Zoo will celebrate World Elephant Day. Our Indian elephants will receive playful enrichment in the morning, and at 2 p.m., visitors can look forward to a special elephant bathing. There will also be guided meetings or an original art workshop – making paper from elephant dung. On Sunday, Prague Zoo, together with the Czech National Bank, will celebrate World Lion Day.
Saturday in the Valley of the Elephants of Prague Zoo will bring not only a rich program celebrating some of the largest animals on the planet, but also the atmosphere of Asian culture. During the popular guided elephant bathing, visitors will learn why bathing is important for octopuses or which of our Indian elephants is the greatest lover of water. Elephants will also be able to be observed during guided meetings.
Not only young visitors can learn interesting facts about the life of elephants, their influence on culture, the history of breeding and protection thanks to information and game stations. Indian elephants are currently threatened mainly by loss of habitat and fragmentation of the area, which causes the isolation of populations. The population in Asia is rising sharply and rural areas are gradually turning into cities.
Gulab, Shanti or Lakuna. Interested parties can playfully get to know Indian elephants at Prague Zoo. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
Sunday will belong to another inhabitant of India at Prague Zoo – the Indian lion. Prague Zoo will celebrate World Lion Day in cooperation with the Visitor Center of the Czech National Bank. In addition to a commented meeting directly with our lion couple, a varied program is also prepared for visitors at the Archa Theater. It will include creative workshops, quizzes for prizes and lectures that will reveal the unexpected connection between the world of finance and the world of animals. The lion portrait can be found on the Czech five-thousand-czech banknote, for example, but it also reigns, for example, on the Congolese banknote. Rwandan banknotes feature a gorilla, while Indonesian banknotes feature an orangutan. Another iconic animal from Prague Zoo – the Przewalski’s horse – also holds its place in numismatic history. A commemorative silver coin in his honor was issued in 1987.
Celebration of World Elephant Day
- Main program in the Valley of Elephants
at 10:30 a.m. commented handover of an enrichment element to female elephants
at 11:30 a.m. commented handover of an enrichment element to a male elephant
at 11:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. commented meetings with female elephants
at 2:00 p.m. commented bathing of elephants
at 3:30 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. tours of the breeding grounds – by prior arrangement
- Accompanying program
at 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. information and game station (Valley of Elephants)
o get to know our elephants
o elephants in culture
o art workshop for children
at 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. making paper from elephant dung (Paper mill in the lower part of the area – at the beginning of the Geotrail)
The lion, the king of animals, appears not only on Czech coins and banknotes, but together with the Light Bearer, it is also the patron saint of the Czech National Bank. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
World Lion Day in cooperation with the Czech National Bank
- 10:00–16:00 commented meetings with lions every hour (Pavilion of Predators and Reptiles – outdoor exhibition)
- 10:00–16:00 Czech National Bank stand (Archa Theatre)
- 10:00–16:00 game and information stand Get to know Indian lions (near the Pavilion of Large Turtles at the lower cable car station)