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A purebred porcupine was born in the African House on 7th July 2010. It is the first purebred Cape Porcupine that has been born in the Czech Republic.
New born fennec foxes
So far the cape porcupines bred in the CR belonged for the most part to the hybrid form. Breeding porcupines is not usually a problematic matter; however, the female in question has had little experience. This is why the keepers have been waiting in anticipation.
Other babies have been born in Africa at Close Range.
“First of all, there are four fennec foxes – it is only the third time in the history of Prague Zoo that young fennec foxes have been successfully bred. The female thus continues her last year’s success, although this time, the male father has been changed“, says Pavel Brandl, the curator of mammal breeding, who is also the author of the photographs.
Surprise birth
“A small vesper mouse was born on the same day as the fennec foxes, i.e. on 6th July. The breeding couple has been in the zoo for a number of years and is beyond its peak age. Last year, they did not have any babies at all. This is why the birth of the young small vesper mouse came as a little surprise,” said Mr. Brandl.
The Small Vesper Mouse usually gives birth to only one or two babies at a time. The birth is all the more valuable due to the fact that in its natural habitat in Madagascar the species is endangered and can only be seen in an area covering less than 200 km². The forest, in which it lives, is being changed into agricultural land and is often burned down. What is more, the animal is widely hunted for its tasty meat. In 2008, The Zoological Society of London listed the species among the 100 most endangered mammals in the world.
Only 70 small vesper mice live in human care. The species even has an international breeding book. So far, Prague Zoo has already bred 7 offspring.
Meet the animals
In the streets of Prague and in the underground, you can see posters with other animal personalities from Prague Zoo – it is the beginning of the second phase of an advertising campaign Meet the animals!, which was launched in April.
“The main objective of the campaign is to present animals, which are not only fascinating representatives of various species, but also those animals that have their own story to tell as well as characteristic traits,“ said Miroslav Bobek, Director of Prague Zoo and the initiator of the campaign.
Full of celebrities
The campaign presents new celebrities from Prague Zoo. One of those animals that will peer out at you from the poster is the Hippo Slávek, who became famous during the 2002 flood. He lives with his companion Maruška.
You can also see a picture of Bora, little bear Berta’s mother, exemplary father cassowary Kašík, or the seal Meloun who is a descendant of the legendary Gaston – the seal that did not survive the great freedom that came to him during the floods in 2002.
Celebrities in postcards
The photographs by Petr Slavík, Robert Halamíček and Petr Jan Juračka have been graphically processed by Vladimír Veselý. Apart from billboards and citylight posters, the campaign presents such objects as postcards, stickers and posters. Boards with biographical information will be placed beside the expositions where the individual animals live. The life stories of the animals will also be gradually published on the Prague Zoo website.
The campaign was launched in April 2010, when the zoo presented eight animals, among them the Galápagos tortoise Eberhard, orangutan Kama and the honey badger Čert. The campaign was awarded as the best April outdoor project by expert media – magazines Strategie and Marketing&Média.
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