An entracing sight to see

There is no need to worry that the cold weather or snowfall will keep exotic animals out of sight. Lions, elephants, jaguars, giraffes, wallabies and rhinoceri regularly venture into their outdoor enclosures even in winter. If you are seeking a little bit of warmth in the coldest months of the year, the popular Ray Bay and the tropical Yucatan Hall still retain their stabile indoor climates. In addition to that, Tyrol, Neapolitáno and Chocolaterie restaurants will take care of your comfort and refreshment.

Winter is the ideal time for observing animals, as many species (surprisingly) enjoy colder weather and snow. This applies not only to natural cold-weather lovers such as Amur tigers, red pandas, geladas, kea parrots, camels or vicuñas, but also to warmth-loving animals including elephants, jaguars, lions, sloth bears and antelopes.
“In the jaguar enclosure, visitors can watch one of our local celebrities, the six-month-old cub Mayara, playing with her parents, Yuna and Akabo. She perceives the freshly fallen snow a source of a great fun, and her antics make everyone laugh - recently, she even rolled a snowball all by herself. I can also recommend visiting the new lion center – watching the three one-year-old lion cubs enjoying the snow-covered enclosure is truly another extraordinary experience,” said Romana Mikešová, the head of marketing, with a smile, inviting visitors to a winter visit.

Humboldt penguins also cope very well with cold weather. Their feathers and a layer of subcutaneous fat provide perfect insulation, hence visitors can see them daily even swimming in their pool, especially during their feeding times at 10:00 and 15:00.
“This is the period when penguins are nesting, so keepers have lined their nesting burrows with straw to ensure thermal comfort. Due to low temperatures, some straw has also been spread throughout the exhibit. Furthermore, an infrared heater has been installed, and the penguins love gathering near it,” explained Romana Mikešová. Additional infrared heaters have been placed thoughout the zoo, f.e. at the African zebu enclosure in Ethiopia and near the capybaras and tapirs in the South American district of the zoo.

Pleasant temperatures are also secured in the large indoor pavilions. “During feeding and petting sessions at Ray Bay, visitors are eager to take off their winter clothing. The cold weather outside is also quickly forgotten in the tropical Yucatan Hall as well as in the giraffe pavilion. The zoo also provides more opportunities for the visitors to liven the winter season up - on Sunday, January 18, we have arranged a special tour of the new elephant breeding facility. All you have to do is to submit an online application in the zoo's e-shop. In addition to that, from January 30 till February 1, every pupil of primary and secondary schools - upon presenting their mid-year school reports at the zooshop - will be allowed to enter the zoo for a symbolic fee CZK 1", added Romana Mikešová.

In January and February, the zoo is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Tyrol restaurant offers refreshments and hot meals daily, while Neapolitáno and Chocolaterie are also open on weekends. Visitors can also enjoy reduced winter admission prices: adults pay CZK 120, children aged 3 to 13 CZK 80, and seniors CZK 100.
“Whether you come for a short visit or spend the whole day here, you can look forward to pleasant experiences combined with a beautiful winter walk. And if you add some good food and perhaps a cup of hot chocolate, I believe you will spend a truly lovely day in the zoo and recharge your much-needed energy,” concluded Romana Mikešová.