The black bear to be homeless'd found home

The infamous Asian black bear is getting comfortable

In 2022, the National Heritage Institute has decided to end the centuries-long tradition of ursine breeding in the moats of castles. Thus, we had to secure a new home for Jirka, an Asian black bear born in our zoo, who was occupying a moat of Konopiště Castle.

Thankfully, we were able to secure our bear a new shelter in the Ostrava Zoo. Jirka was transported on Wednesday, December 18, into a breeding facility of Chitwan exposition. Once settled, he is going to occupy a spacious forest paddock in the renown zoo.

After months of preparations, the transportation of the bear went well. Considering the fact that the narcotization of large animals is rather risky, Jirka was gradually used to crating, so he could undergo the transportation awake.

Upon the transportation, Jirka was released into the breeding exposition of Chitwan. After the 30-days long mandatory quarantine procedure, he is going to be released into a special spacious paddock. „The forestlike outdoor exposition meets the most demanding criteria and offers plenty of natural shelters, resting areas as well as natural water features. This ursine exposition is one of the largest zoo bear enclosures in the world and we are happy that we have managed to move our bear to a new, truly comfortable home,“ stated Roman Horský, the director of the Zlín Zoo. Moreover, over the course of time, Jirka is going to be introduced not only to the older resident, the neutered Asian black bear male, but also to the group of Hanuman langurs occupying the outdoor ursine exposition, spreading out on the area taking more than one hectare. The cohabitation of these species is peaceful, enriching both of them. The Asian black bears are predominantly vegetarians, their diet consists of grass, leaves, roots, tubers and fruit, to a lesser extent also of invertebrates and small vertebrates such as lizards and rodents. If any of the herbivorous primates ever felt threatened, it can seek a safe haven in the tree canopies or in its exclusive indoor habitat.

The Chitwan exposition was built in 2010, providing the species a lot of enrichment: the ursines are free to forage for raspberries, strawberries, acorns and other forest fruits.

„Despite all the attention and care Jirka was given by the keepers at Konopiště, we perceive the relocation of the bear to the Ostrava Zoo as the best step to improve the quality of his life. We wish him quick and smooth adaptation to the new environment,“ commented Oldřich Pešek, the deputy for the administration of historical objects at the National Heritage Institute.