Page 5 - ZOO vs 2009

Zoologická záhrada Bojnice
Výročná správa 2009 The Annual Report

Dear friends,

The year 2009 was not only a year of changes within the management of the Zoological garden Bojnice,
but also a year of preparations and finishing of projects financed by European Union funds. The first project,
approved in 2008, was followed by further four projects approved in 2009, with total sum of 7 827 366 € as
non-recoverable financial contribution. A detailed summary of approved projects as well as their subject
field can be found in a separate report.
Since big investment projects were being prepared and approved in 2009 and the planned 2nd phase
of the Carpathian Fauna Natural Trail of construction was not started because of problems with public
procurement, only one smaller exposition was finished in the given year. In the visitors´ area of the pavilion
of primates, we built a new exposition of the Pygmy Marmoset, which had been bred only in background of
the zoo before. One of many small reconstructions and technical operations was the reconstruction of the
boiler room that enables to burn up scrap wood, which reduces the consumption of natural gas. We were
preparing projects for new buildings.
In the field of breeding, we made an unheard-of success. We managed to breed the Bornean Orangutan,
for the first time in Slovakia. Another “first-breeding” of our zoo was the breeding of 4 babies of the
Common Genet. Considering newly-acquired species, we should not forget to mention 6 animals of the
precious Pancake Tortoise and, important for visitors, 2 lions in case of which we continued in breeding after
many years. In case of several species, we managed to complete pairs, which was the basis for successful
future breeding. The most significant change was the exchange of Roloway Guenon males and pairing of the
Southern Cassowary and the Steller´s Sea Eagle.
Our efforts in projects „in situ“ continued, concentrating on Barn Owl, European Ground Squirrel, Mountain
Apollo, but also on our participation in projects WAPCA in Western Africa (details in a separate article). We
also joined the cooperation within UCSZ (Union of Czech and Slovak Zoos) more intensively in 2009, when
two people of our staff were leading specialist and our zoo has been publishing 2 professional bulletins
already, about their activities (Baghira and Midas). The informational system of the area was extended by
new informational boards, dedicated to our carnivores and 11 boards in a new construction dedicated to
the issue of the network NATURA 2000, which are part of the finished 1st phase of the Educational path of
Carpathian fauna.
In the last year we had 346 257 visitors, which is less by 18 711 when compared to the year 2008. We
assume that the number of visitors was affected partly by the decreasing number of Czech and Polish
tourists after introducing euro as currency. In spite of that, the ZOO of Bojnice is still the most visited zoo
in Slovakia as well as the most visited place of tourist interest in the county of Trenčín.
In spite of all problems, we managed to keep the organization going as well as being developed. That
was thanks to the collective effort of our staff and we are really grateful to them for it. We also thank our
founder, fans of our Zoo and all sponsors who supported breeding of our animas financially.

Ing. Milan Šovčík

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