2026 at Ostrava Zoo: Celebrate 75 years with amphibians

The official date of establishment of the Ostrava Zoo is 21 October 1951. However, it was originally located in another part of the city – on a six-hectare plot in Ostrava-Kunčičky, where it was part of the local Miners’ Park. Even at the time of its opening, a more suitable location for the new zoo was actively sought. In the end, an area of the Great Ostrava Forest in Slezská Ostrava was chosen. Construction work on the new site began in 1956, and in February 1960, the animals began to be moved from Kunčičky. The zoo was opened to visitors on 1 May 1960, but it should be noted that at that time it was still under construction.

The zoo has become a member of several prestigious international organisations and associations. These include the Union of Czech and Slovak Zoos (UCSZOO, since 1991), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA, since 1996), IZE (International Association of Zoo Educators, since 1998), the most respected international organisation, the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA, since 2005), the Union of Czech Botanical Gardens (since 2005) and the Czech Coalition for Nature Conservation, among others.

The employees of the Ostrava Zoo are rightly considered to be among the current experts in the field of animal husbandry in Europe, as evidenced by their successes in breeding difficult-to-breed species, the extraordinary rearing of rare and endangered animals, and the fact that, with their growing prestige, they are increasingly involved in the management of international breeding programmes. Several employees are even members of expert committees for certain animal groups within the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria or in conservation groups in other international organisations.

The zoo participates in more than seventy European conservation programmes within EAZA, four of which it directly manages (for amphibious hippos, chimpanzees, Vietnamese sika deer and barasingha), including the administration of studbooks. These books are also kept for other species (for example, the European studbook for Siberian wapiti and red-fronted Amazon parrots). It also maintains the global studbook for Vietnamese sika deer.

The zoo also supports more than 20 conservation projects in the wild, focusing on endangered species in all corners of the planet.

In recent decades, Ostrava Zoo has been developing dynamically with significant support from the statutory city of Ostrava, which is its founder and owner. For several years in a row, the zoo’s attendance has exceeded 600,000 people per year. This ranks it among the most visited tourist attractions in Ostrava, the region and the entire Czech Republic! The zoo is aware that with its growing popularity comes a commitment to its visitors. In order to ensure that people are comfortably processed during times of high visitor traffic, it is working on expanding the entrance area and will open additional ticket offices and entrances during the high season. In the middle of the complex, visitors will be able to see the gradual construction of a new exhibition and breeding complex for endangered African penguins, which is scheduled for completion in 2027.

Focus on amphibians

The year in which the zoo celebrates three quarters of a century of existence will also bring people more news. At the end of the summer, a new pavilion called Amphibiarium will open in the upper part of the complex, just behind the zoo entrance. This specialised building is dedicated to amphibians, which are the most endangered group of vertebrates.

Amphibians are also one of the main groups of animals that will be part of the new conservation campaign Wetlands for Life, announced by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) for 2026 and 2027. Special events for the public will be held throughout the year to introduce the campaign. Although the zoo is an ideal place for relaxation and leisure, visitors can also learn new information about the animals kept there and about nature conservation. They can also look forward to traditional guided tours of the animals. A new children’s playground and refreshment stand will also be added.