Zoo Ohrada

Ohrada Zoo was founded by private initiative of Dr. Adolf Schwarzenberg and his wife in the park at the hunting lodge Ohrada. Castle for some time been used by their owners for their original purposes, and therefore it some time before it created the public with natural science museum collections, particularly in relation to forestry and hunting. Zoo Construction began soon after the decision in the autumn of 1937, and during the following year has been in operation of aviaries and enclosures, including the terrarium. For the public, the zoo was opened on 1 May 1939 and this year it was visited by 33,076 visitors. Second World War II interrupted the development of the zoo, but even after the war there were not created favorable conditions for its further development. The hunting lodge, including the zoo came under national control and management of the zoo over the next 25 years gradually gave way to a few managers who were not able to provide its guidance. Given the focus of exhibitions at the hunting lodge, which still belonged to the zoo, its administrators were primarily in to forestry and hunting. Conditions for animals where not suitable and the zoo existed in isolation from other Czechoslovakian zoos. According to the state where animals and technical equipment level lagged behind the zoo and gardens, which were at that time newly established. The zoo was maintained at the level of simple animal husbandry without ambition, nor the extent of its area (approximately 0.5 ha) from the foundation was changed. At the end of the 1950s a total of 80 species have been bred at the zoo. Besides the new bear enclosure, there were no significant structures, rather was only carried out the maintenance of existing facilities and to all the damage by removing any vegetation, including trees. But despite the low level of equipment and the size of the zoo the public and attendance is high, in the 1960s it was around 150,000 people per year. The last manager at that time, the Farm Museum Prague - or forestry, hunting and fishing museum The garden through which the zoo has been conducted, failed to ensure the operation of the zoo and its superior authority, the Department of scientific information, not the activities or interest in maintaining the zoo, because this device was outside of his job description. Zoo therefore started to decline. This was reflected in the attendance, which in 1969 fell to 73,000 visitors per year. The operator of the zoo wanted to either close or transfer it. In 1971 the zoo was due to lack of interest in service practically without money and the whole building was in disrepair. Animals that remained were in poor health and nutritional status and exposure, and breeding facilities did not meet even the most basic requirements. In the second half of 1971 it was decided that the zoo was taken over by the South Bohemian Regional National Committee and to be included in the network of zoos by the Ministry of Culture. Independence from forestry, hunting and fishing museum, managed from Prague, brought a new regional facility until an unprecedented development opportunities. Even at the end of March 1972 the scientific and technical information between headquarters and Prague in the Czech Budejovice JčKNV signed delimitation agreement, which passed the use of farm buildings. These areas were initially just built changing rooms and sanitary facilities for the zoo staff, preparation of food, food storage, isolation and quarantine of animals, workshops, warehouses and the Zoo headquarters. Gradually, were also performed and reconstruction of the Powerhouse, water supply, sewerage, roads and fencing. At that time, was built a house with two housing units for employees of the zoo. Gradually the individual breeding facilities modernized and expanded the exposure area. In 1982 opened new paddocks for ungulates and waterfowl on the lake shore Munický, it significantly increased the area of the zoo. Increased with the number of breeding species (compared with 1972, increased to 1985 the number of species of animals nearly tripled - 103 species, nearly four times the number of individuals - 330 individuals). The zoo began to fulfill the mission of zoos - in addition to recreation of the population it gradually increased the level of animal husbandry, which is reflected in the breeding success, and involvement in nature conservation, slowly began to develop active learning and educational activities and involvement in nature conservation. At that time, was also the first project, which allowed for the expansion of the zoo grounds outside the current boundaries - and the interesting parts of the lake shoreline Munický from the hunting lodge to the village. In 1978, the zoo built a small theater in the open air and there was children's theater tradition of days without a break that lasts to this day. Moon theater before the end of the school year for the youngest audience and targeted content and form of animals, and recently primarily on people's relationship to them, are non-violent form of environmental education. Together with increasing levels increased, the zoo staff and visitors and rose again. Until the end of 1972, 106,847 people visited the zoo in 1973 already 138,959. In 1978, attendance for the first time exceeded 200,000. In 1990, after the demise of regional national committees, the Ohrada District Office in the Czech Budejovice took over the zoo, as the founder. The first three years of the 1990s were marked by a big drop in attendance, as indeed it was at this time can be recorded in our other zoos, at approximately 150,000 people. In connection with further modernization and expansion of the zoo in 1995, but attendance has grown again over the level of 200,000, where it maintains to this day. At that time, modernisation as a significant part in exhibitions was not available to the zoo, on this occasion were, for example at the current exposure or mesh grille replaced the glass and was also reconstructed and expanded to include ponds with waterfowl at the pond shore Munický large-scale modern and interesting exposure. Zoo possessed by 3 ha area for further development. It was built a modern nursery, which also serves as winter habitat for thermophilic species and a greenhouse. Another significant shift in the modern approach to construction of stands in 2000 and 2001, when it was built and opened for public exhibition conceived a new habitat for aquatic turtles, otters, flamingos, Australian flora and fauna of the American part of the exhibition, has been modernized to adapt its wintering grounds of to new workshop premises. Thus was freed space for much-needed modernization of the zoo facilities, mainly for the development of livestock feeding insects and rodents and to enlarge and modernize quarantine area, which will also include modern veterinary dispensary. Currently, the total area of the zoois 6 ha , but has only 1.8 hectares is accessible to visitors and approximately 1.2 hectares of technical and economic background. The remaining 3 ha area for development. Abundance of animals has increased by 1999 to 360 individuals in 115 species and by 2001 to more than 550 individuals in more than 150 species. Zoo Ohrada its independence after its activity gradually gained recognition among our other zoos and in 1991 became a founding member of the Union of Czech and Slovak Zoological Gardens. Later to be followed by membership in major international organizations - since 1997 is a full member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), since 2001 a member of the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) and its representation in the international association of educators zoos (IKE). The zoo area also simultaneously serves as a rescue station for handicapped animals in the national network stations CSOP.


Last visited 2012 

Phone number 387 002 219
Fax number 387 002 211
Address: ZOOLOGICKÁ ZAHRADA OHRADA, 37341 Hluboka nad Vltavou, Czech Republic
E-mail: info@zoo-ohrada.cz Tato adresa je chráněna proti spamování, pro její zobrazení potřebujete mít Java scripty povoleny 

Open : minimum 8.30am-4pm

Entrace fee: 
 

Annual Card
 

• Adult 550,- CZK
• Familly card 1* 950,- CZK
• Familly card 2** 1450,- CZK

* Valid for 1 adult and 1 child
** Valid for 2 adults and up to 2 children


For kids: Playgrounds and pettingarea

Food: The Zoo has a place where you can get a snack

Taking photos: Is allowed, if publiciesed, please mention the zoo on your homepage