National Zoological Garden Bojnice

Národná zoologická záhrada Bojnice (other names: Národná zoo Bojnice, Bojnická zoologická záhrada/ National Zoological Garden Bojnice) is the oldest and the most visited zoological garden in Slovakia. It was opened for the public on 1stApril 1955. It covers an area of 41 hectares; more than one half of that is taken by animal enclosures. The zoo is located in a recreation environment of the spa town of Bojnice. National Zoo Bojnice is the only state zoological garden in Slovakia, run by the Ministry of Environment of the Slovak Republic. Our activities include live animals displays; we also raise some of the endangered species. Our aim is to have an educational impact on the public in respect to environmental and biodiversity protection. In addition, we manage the national rescue center for confiscated and seized animals. Our specialised employees actively cooperate with CITES and state institutions involved in nature protection. Furthermore, we provide permanent care for handicapped animals within our rehabilitation station. The same applies for injured rare animals taken from the nature and; at last, but not at least, we offer our visitors a great opportunity to relax.

Membership in Scientific Organisations
The National Zoo Bojnice is a distinctive member of important international organisations, namely: WAZA (The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums), EAZA (The European Association of Zoos and Aquariums), UCSZOO (The Union of Czech and Slovak Zoos), WAPCA (The West African Primate Conservation Action), EEKMA (The European Elephant Keeper and Manager Association), IZE (The International Zoo Educators Association) and Species360 (The International Zoo Animals Database). We actively cooperate in research and protection of animals in their natural environment with the most important Slovak and international institutions.

Our Share in Nature Protection at Home and Abroad
Within the European fauna protection, National zoo Bojnice cooperates on several long-term projects of preservation of the endangered species in Slovakia as well as abroad. One of the most important points is a cooperation with the Tatra National Park in respect to the research and immobilisation of Tatra chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) and a very active cooperation in the research of Carpathian lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus) in Slovakia. This projects also currently includes a successful rehabilitation of wild animals and their subsequent reintroduction into the nature. The zoo also participates in a preservation programme of repatriation of Ural owl (Strix uralensis) to Šumava, a regular reintroduction ofyoungsters of Barn owl (Tyto alba) raised in captivity back into the nature or the raising as well as a reintroduction of mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo) toselected locations (in cooperation with the State Natural Protection of Slovakia).

The National Zoo Bojnice is also active in preservation of the endangered species of the world fauna; for example, it has supported extincting Edwards’s pheasant (Lophura edwardsi) by sending two animals raised in the zoo directly to Vietnam in cooperation with the zoo in Prague. A long-term support of the WAPCA (West African Primate Conservation Action) activities, together with raising of one of the most important species of this project, the critically endangered Roloway monkey (Cercopithecus roloway) is also very important.

Zoo Animals
The National Zoo Bojnice presents its unique collection of animals from the entire world, consisting of more than 430 species with the total number of more than 3500 animals. It is the largest collection of animals in Slovakia, while approximately 280 species from this collection are unique in Slovakia, e.g. African elephants or antelopes bongo. The Zoo also participates in raising of 31 species of animals recorded in EEP (European Endangered Species Program), 39 species of animals recorded in ESB (European Studbooks) and 14 species of animals recorded in ISB (International Studbooks).

The most significant species currently being raised in our ZOO:

MAMMALS
Eastern Bongo (Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci)
Sable Antelope (Hippotragus niger)
African Civet (Civettictis civetta civetta) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Bush Hyrax (Heterohyrax brucei)
Kirk´s Dikdik (Madoqua kirkii)
Yellow-cheeked Gibbon (Nomascus gabriellae)
Black-and-white Colobus Monkey (Colobus guereza)
Yellow-troathen Marten (Martes flavigula aterrima)
White-lipped Deer (Cervus albirostris)
Agile Wallaby (Macropus agilis) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus melanops)
West Caucasian Tur (Capra caucasica)
Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa)
Persian Leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor)
Barbary Lion (Panthera leo leo)
Owl-faced Monkey (Cercopithecus hamlyni) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Roloway Monkey (Cercopithecus roloway) – only zoo v ČR/SR
African Palm Civet (Nandinia binotata) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
Bornean Orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus)
Red Panda (Ailurus fulgens)
Carpathian Lynx (Lynx lynx carpathicus)
African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
Golden Takin (Budorcas taxicolor bedfordi)
Red-bellied Tamarin (Saguinus labiatus)
Red Ruffed Lemur (Varecia rubra)
Hartmann´s Mountain Zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae)

BIRDS
Red-fan parrot (Deroptyus accipitrinus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Hyacinth Macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus)
Edwards´s Pheasant (Lophura edwardsi)
Bornean Fireback (Lophura ignita rufa) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Nene (Branta sandvicensis)
Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus)
Helmeted Curassow (Pauxi pauxi)
Australian Ibis (Threskiornis molucca)
Scarlet Ibis (Eudocimus ruber)
Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius)
King Vulture (Sarcorhamphus papa)
Victoria Crowned-Pigeon (Goura victoria)
Black-necked Swan (Cygnus melanocoryphus)
Goldie´s Lorikeet (Psitteuteles goldiei) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Eurasian Spoonbill (Platalea leucorodia)
Steller´s Sea-Eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus)
White-browed Coucal (Centropus superciliosus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis)
Laughing Kookaburra (Dacelo novaeguineae)
Spotted Laughingthrush (Ianthocincla ocellata artemisiae)
Spectacled Owl (Pulsatrix perspicillata)
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta)
Crowned Hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Keel-billed Toucan (Ramphastos sulfuratus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Fischer´s Turaco (Tauraco fischeri) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill (Bycanistes subcylindricus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Wrinkled Hornbill (Rhabdotorrhinus corrugatus)
Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus)

REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, FISH

Green anaconda (Eunectes murinus)
Saban anole (Anolis sabanus) – only zoo v ČR/SR
African tigerfish (Hydrocynus vittatus)
Radiated tortoise (Astrochelys radiata)
African softshell turtle (Trionyx triunguis) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis)
Chinese crocodile lizard (Shinisaurus crocodilurus)
McCord’s box turtle (Cuora mccordi) – only zoo v ČR/SR
Fiji banded iguana (Brachylophus fasciatus)
Tyrannochromis nigriventer – only zoo v ČR/SR
Emperor angelfish (Pomacanthus imperator)
White-lipped tree frog (Litoria infrafrenata)
Red mountain rat snake (Oreocryptophis p. coxi) – only zoo v ČR/SR