Prague Zoo ranked number five in the world

The Prague Zoo was ranked fifth-best in the world based on reviews from users of travel website TripAdvisor. This is the third time that the Prague Zoo has been ranked in the top 10.

“It is a clear joy!" Prague Zoo director Miroslav Bobek said on social media.

“For several years now we have been in an absolute leadership position, and we are even the first in Continental Europe. We give great thanks to all visitors, supporters and especially to the Prague Zoo and its organizer,” he added.

The zoo actually fell one spot since the last ranking, but that did not seem to bother Bobek, as the zoo remains in the top 5. TripAdvisor users ranked the zoo fourth in 2015 and seventh in 2014. Zoos were not ranked in 2016.

The comment highlighted by TripAdvisor about the zoo was a mixed review: ““Wonderful zoo, terrible location and long boat journey to attraction.” The zoo, though, has been addressing transport issues including a possible tram link, but that is several years away. Aside from a boat, the zoo is accessible by bus from the Nádraží Holešovice metro stop.

The zoo has not been resting on it success. This year, the entire zoo has become no smoking, and new parking lots with shuttle buses have opened to relieve traffic near the zoo. New pavilions continue to be opened as well. Pavilions are planned for gorillas, polar bears and pandas, and the zoo is in the process of requesting a panda on loan from China.

The zoo also has been having educational events on many weekends to highlight specific animals. Another new educational element introduced, for example, is making paper from sanitized elephant dung.

Notable births at the zoo this year include a quintuplet of cheetahs. Aside from cheetahs, the zoo this year has seen the births of a litter of wolves, a rare white-bearded tamarin and several Komodo dragons. Last year saw the birth of two baby elephants, who are still huge attractions. The zoo in 2016 saw a total of 1,191 juveniles in 223 species.

Prague Zoo currently covers 58 hectares with 50 hectares used for exhibits. It has over 4,700 animals from 681 species, including 144 species listed as threatened. The zoo has 12 pavilions and over 150 exhibits. It has been particularly active in the preservation of the Przewalski's horses, which are slowly being returned to the wild.

Top 10 Zoological Gardens 2017:
Loro Parque (Puerto de la Cruz, Spain)
San Diego Zoo (Sand Diego, California, US)
Chester Zoo (Chester, UK)
Singapore Zoo (Singapore)
Prague Zoo (Prague, Czech Republic)
St. Louis Zoo (St. Louis, Missouri, US)
Tiergarten Schönbrunn - Zoo Vienna (Vienna, Austria)
ZooParc de Beauval (Saint-Aignan, France)
Bioparc Valencia (Valencia, Spain)
Folly Farm (Begelly, UK)