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Ostrava

Description

The story of how Ostrava Zoological Gardens came to be established is closely linked with the activities of the Miners in the Zárubek and Alexander mines during the construction of what was known as the Mining Complex of Ostrava - Kuncicky. The complex was begun in 1948 on six hectares of land near the Alexander mine. The work was carried out by brigades, assisted by the people of Ostrava , including schoolchildren.

Once created, the park was used for recreational purposes. It included, for example, a natural theatre, a dance floor, a children's paddling pool and sandpits. The complex eventually contained two tennis courts, as well as a volleyball court and a basketball court. Most of these facilities were opened for use to mark the occasion of Miners' Day in September 1950.

Let's start building. On the right is the future first director, B. Vítek. 1950

IN 1949, at the instigation of Bohumil Vítek, it was decided to incorporate a zoo into the growing park. The first animals to be kept included one roebuck, two does and five pheasants. Peacocks were later added, and once the aviary was finished, other birds were moved in.

All of the costs connected with the maintenance and running of the park were paid by the Zárubek Mines works committee, helped by donations and contributions made by the then Ministry of Information and Education.

Overview of the zoo in Ostrava - Kuncicky

In January 1951, after negotiation with Ostrava officials, representatives of the above-mentioned Ministry decided that a provisional zoological garden would be built in Ostrava – Kuncicky; this plan was supported by experts headed by Docent O. Štepánek and the director of Prague Zoo, Dr. C. Purkyne.

The 11th regular plenary session of JNV Ostrava then approved the motion to have the zoo in the Mining Complex of Ostrava - Kuncicky come under permanent administration and maintenance as of 26.10.1951. So it was that on this day Ostrava Zoological Gardens were established.

Director B. Vítek with the deer

Two years later (22.5.1953) the 179th regular meeting of the JNV council defined the Zoo as a self-financing culturally educational facility of the JNV, and B. Vítek was entrusted to manage it.

In April 1953 it was decided to build a new zoo, marking the start of lengthy negotiations as to the new home for the zoo once it was moved from Kuncicky.

Entrance to the zoo. 1957

Opinions differed as to the choice of the new location for the construction of a definitive zoo in Ostrava. Initially attention was focused on Belský Forest for the new site, although also under consideration were Radvanice, a site near the village of Vresina, and the Odry valley between Svinov and Prívoz (!). On 9.9.1953 a meeting was held in Ostrava to decide the location of the new zoo, attended by representatives of the JNV, KNV and the Ministry of Education and Enlightenment. The participants approved the proposal put forward by Docent O. Štepánek, chairman of the scientific committee for zoological gardens as part of the MEE, who proposed building the definitive zoological gardens in the Stromovka area in Silesian Ostrava. The advantage of the Stromovka site were quoted as being its rugged terrain, variety of forest vegetation, abundance of water and ease of traffic access. The drawbacks included undermining and the proximity of the chemical plant in Hrušov. On 30.9.1954 the Ministry of Culture finally approved the investment into the construction of the zoo at Stromovka and nominated Stavoprojekt as the chief planner.

Construction of the bear enclosure began in 1958; the runs date from 1961 - 1962. (photo taken in 1961)

The year 1956 can be considered as marking the start of the construction work on the new zoo at Stromovka, in the cadastre of Silesian Ostrava and Hermanice. The first stages of construction focused on access routes and economic buildings. The first building in the visitor area was the bear enclosure, which was begun in 1958 and completed in 1962. On May 1st 1960 it was opened to the public, although incomplete. The early days of the zoo at Stromovka were very hard. Large parts of the zoo were again built using brigade workers, although they were helped in this task particularly by retired miners.

Temporary wooden pavilion for the big cats. 1960

Until 1965 the operation of the zoo was a very makeshift affair. All the warmth-loving animals weathered the first two winters in the warehouse, which at that time was the only building with heating. The elephant and big cats were not moved to new pavilions until 1962, and the monkeys being moved in 1965. Before this, during the summer months animals had to be housed in temporary wooden structures. The high point of the construction work came in the late sixties and particularly in the seventies. This period saw the appearance of the unique free chimpanzee run (1968), three new lakes (1969, 1974), the exhibition of Siberian Tigers and Kodiak Bears (1971, 1975), the children's zoo (1972), the hippo pavilion (1975) and the gibbons' island (1979).

In the years 1968 - 1978 30 brown bear cubs were fostered. 1968

Other essential parts were also put into operation, such as the rearing house (1973), the central zoo kitchen (1974), the quarantine area (1975), a second car park (1978) and a self-service restaurant (1978). Some areas were completely rebuilt, such as the original temporary enclosure for the deer (1970, 1978) and other hoofed animals (1971). In 1973 the general overhaul of the bear enclosure was completed. In the 1980s there was a major cut in funding and it was with great difficulty that the areas that had long been under construction were finally completed and put into use (the education centre and small predators' pavilion in 1984, the giraffe house and water birds' pavilion in 1987).

Young Sumatran tiger being weighed. Photo: P. Danel

At the beginning of the nineties Ostrava Zoo began to fall behind other zoos in the Czech Republic in terms of techniques and facilities. It was not until 1974 that funds granted by the founder made it possible to begin reconstructing and modernising a number of dilapidated buildings and facilities. This included the pavilions for the rhinos, primates and predators, fencing around the complex, installation of a supply of electricity and gas, and the construction of an aviary for handicapped birds. In accordance with the Program Targets and Tasks of the RMO for the Development of the City of Ostrava to the Year 1998, from January 1996, a Development Concept was drawn up for Ostrava Zoo to the year 2005. The aim of this remains to ensure that the zoo achieves its mission and reaches a standard corresponding to its importance in the region.

Artificial rearing of the chimpanzee "Galu" (1971 - 1972)

The development concept arises from the conditions required for membership of the Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens (UCSZ) and of the European Association of Zoological Gardens and Aquariums (EAZA). It is also governed by the World Zoo Conservation Strategy adopted in 1993. This concerns itself with maintaining biofunds, biodiversity and the protection of gene banks and is linked up with national nature conservation projects.

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