Free Time > Zoological Gardens > Decin
Decin
- Address: Teplicka street 19/24, Decin [show on the map]
- Telephone: +420 412 531 626
- Website: http://www.zoodecin.cz/en/en_zoo.htm
- E-mail: info@zoodecin.cz
Description
Our ZOO is situated on the hill called Pastyrska stena. In fact it is one of the first things you notice when arrive at Decin. On the top of a cliff there sitsa building looking like a romantic palace - in fact it is a tourists' restaurant. Yes, you have to climb this wall to get in our ZOO. It is quite a pleasant though a little bit hard walk. Of course you can go by car but why not to do something for your health. The hill looks big but after you reach the top you will just walk comfortably from one enclosure to another.
At the beginning there were just a few animals on an area of about 1 hectare. From the very beginning the director's office was in the office block that had survived from pre-war times. Mr. Grác became the director, and was in this position to 1965. In the 1950's - 1970's the ZOO hosted a lot of rare species, e.g.:
Malayan sun bear (the first and only one in the Czech Republic in the 50's), chamois (the first captive breeding in the 70's, with totally 10 young ones of this species which is difficult to breed in captivity were born and reared in the ZOO).
Around 1970 under the directorship of Mr. Koci, this ZOO became famous particularly for its breeding of chamois. The first chamois ever born in Bohemia in captivity came into world right here in our ZOO. There was also a lot of bears - European or Asian ones. It was also this ZOO where the first capybara, babirusa or gemsbock born in captivity in Bohemia and Slovakia saw the light of day. Briefly speaking the ZOO was quite successful. Nevertheless it might have been even better when our ZOO directors had more money, and could built enclosures, pens and runs for all their animals in which they could feel happy as we do, i.e. me and Helga in our enclosure.
Today the ZOO keeps about 110 species on an area of more than 6 hectares. Except for us there livemore than 330 hairy, feathered and scaly friends Every year 50 000 - 60 000 visitors come to see us. Of course, I do not count them, it is the job of our ticket clerk. But I think that the visitors like the ZOO because they really can see a lot of things there. I am sure that they meet lots of animals for the first time right here in our ZOO. Helga and me, we are sometimes also surprised what our director and zoologist are able to acquire. Once it can be an absolutely hairless pig, then a porcupine living on trees or a dwarf cattle unable to provide meat for a single dinner. It may be their intention - to introduce animals that can be otherwise hardly seen.
Opening Hours
- March - April: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
- May - August: 8.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m.
- September - October: 8.00 a.m. - 6.00 p.m.
- November - February: 8.00 a.m. - 4.00 p.m