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History
The Protivin Crocodile Zoo came into existence
thanks to captive breeding programmes run privately by Miroslav
Prochazka. He developed an interest in crocodiles in his early youth in
the Station of Young Scientists in Pisek, where he gained basic
knowledge needed for breeding crocodiles. He has been a private captive
crocodile breeder since 1996; nevertheless he started to build his
entire collection of crocodile species in 2000. He has been breeding and
raising crocodiles successfully since 2005.
The original breeding stock was built up through facilities
on his agricultural farm in Chvalsiny; the Protivin Zoo exposition part
has been built since 2005. The farm at Chvalsiny remained preserved and
nowadays it serves as a breeding and supply farm for the Zoo. In January
2008, Miroslav Prochazka applied for his zoo licence to the Ministry of
Environment of the Czech Republic, pursuant to Act 162/ 2003 Coll., and
was granted the licence in May of that same year.
The exposition part itself is being built in
Protivin in the historic administration building, the foundation of
which dates back to the end of the 18th century. In the 19th century it
served as a horse stable, a carriage stable as well as official living
quarters for coachmen and was part of the Protivin Châteaux estates
possessed by the Schwarzenberg family. Following the Land Reform in the
first half of the 20th century, the complex was given to the private
owner who ran his joiner workshop here while other parts of the complex
served as storage spaces. In 2005, the estate was bought from the
owner’s lineal descents by the Zoo’s founder.
Project
The Zoo development is being performed under strictly
ecological considerations. It is not appropriate to say that the only
purpose includes breeding, reproducing and exhibiting crocodiles, but
also using and thereby promoting ecological technologies. Therefore, an
energy unit comprised of three geothermal heat pumps, generating a total
of heat output of nearly 100 kW, was first built in the Zoo. This value
matches heat resistance of the building, thus making it possible for
both the planned construction of the terrariums and on the building
floor to be sufficiently supplied with heat, covering nearly 2,000 m2
of the floor area intended for the crocodile sanctuary. The geothermal
heat pumps draw heat from eight 120 m deep wells drilled in the Zoo
ground area.
The whole construction has been divided into three
phases: The first phase, which lasted from 2005 until the beginning of
2008, meant construction of the above mentioned energy unit, i.e. the
system of drills and heat pumps, administrative facilities and the first
eleven terrariums intended for medium-sized crocodiles.
The project itself envisages construction of thirty terrariums providing
an area of 6 m2 (for crocodile hatchlings and individual
small species) up to 110 m2 (intended for breeding
individuals of false gavials – Tomistoma schlegelii).
The second phase, during which large terrariums with
an area of 80 up to 100 m2 are being built, has been ongoing
since June 2008. The third phase, during which terrariums on the
building floor will be built, is set for completion in 2012.
Breeding and Exhibition Concept
The fully realized, integrated design exhibition concept
aims to exhibit all 23 extant crocodile species. This concept has also
designed to include the construction of the zoological museum, in which
there will be osteological and also a small number of dermoplastic
preparations of not only crocodiles.
In terms of breeding, emphasis has been put on compiling breeding groups
of endangered and critically endangered crocodile species, being part
not only of the entire exhibition, but also on the farm to make sure
these animals have optimal conditions for reproduction. Nowadays such
breeding groups have been formed, comprising five (Alligator sinensis,
Crocodylus siamensis, Crocodylus rhombifer, Crocodylus mindorensis,
Tomistoma schlegelii) out of seven endangered and critically
endangered species, while two of them (C. rhombifer and C.
siamensis) have already been taken for captive reproduction.
Zoological Museum
The activity of the zoological garden has also expanded to
include educational, study and scientific activities. These functions in
the crocodile zoo are and will be particularly performed in the
zoological museum, which is now being established concurrently with the
Zoo development and also thanks to the Zoo operator’s own collection.
The initial intention of collecting osteological
preparations, particularly skulls and complete crocodile skeletons, has
expanded, over the course of time, to include all vertebrates. Hence,
the collection now comprises more than 1,200 exhibits, mostly
comprehensive systematic groups of vertebrates, e.g. cats, bears,
elephants, rhinos, hornbills and others. A fraction representing parts
of the collection is exhibited at the Zoo, while its greater part has
been placed in the depository. We assume that the complete collection,
being part of the Zoo, will be exhibited to the public by the end of
2010.
Source: official site of
Krokodýlí zoo
Protivín (2011)
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