Summer Zoo Camp for the Club of Young Naturalists, Dvur Kralove Zoo
Date: 08.06.2012
Dvur Kralove Zoo organised their 8th annual zoo-camp for the Club of Young Naturalists from the city of Karvina, the first event within the series held back in 2004. In the period from 1 to 8 August, 15 children and 2 teachers were accommodated in the local primary school, the group coming to the zoo to attend a special programme on a daily basis. Some of the kids were participating for the fifth time and were showing a great interest and knowledge as regards exotic animals. They took part in a number of teaching lessons organised by Education in addition to a range of experience programmes.
Dvur Kralove Zoo organised their 8th annual zoo-camp for the Club of Young Naturalists from the city of Karvina, the first event within the series held back in 2004. In the period from 1 to 8 August, 15 children and 2 teachers were accommodated in the local primary school, the group coming to the zoo to attend a special programme on a daily basis. Some of the kids were participating for the fifth time and were showing a great interest and knowledge as regards exotic animals.
Monday - After a warm welcome by Tomas Hajnys and Ilona Kratochvilova, the young scientists from Karvina participated in a scavenger hunt around the zoo to allow beginners gaining good orientation throughout the zoo. Afterwards, the team paid a visit to the Darwin’s Centre, where they learned about programme animals. In the evening, there was an informal match in the Safari Hotel’s bowling alley.
Tuesday - At the Darwin’s Centre, there was an event presenting animal behaviour. The young scientists also performed a field ethology training session - the observation of Ring-tailed Lemurs on the Lemur’s Island with a keeper Lucie Pavlacikova, the same activity conducted with other animals as well, such as Amur Tigers, African Wild Dogs, Jackals, Cheetahs, reptiles and amphibians of the Water Worlds exhibit, birds at the Bird World house, Roan Antelopes, African Elephants, Springboks and Chimpanzees. In addition, the scientists were observing, near the African Savannah house, sun spots along with the professionals of the astronomy observatory of the city of Upice. After the lunch, there was a visit to the depository of natural specimens where the scientists were instructed to identify animals by skin, horn, shell, egg and so on. Afterwards, keeper Jiri Vodehnal presented to the scientists Nikita the Blue-and-yellow Macaw, this followed by a guided tour through the flamingo and pelican aviaries. After greatly appreciating Michal Podhrazsky for his narration, the team joined working activities at the Bird World house.
Wednesday – Since 2011 was the International Year of Forest, there was a presentation concerning European wildlife and bark beetle in Sumava National Park. Immediately after the lunch, the scientists along with their teachers had the opportunity of making use of the knowledge acquired in creating an open-air event entitled “The Forest Trail” in the neighbourhood of the Lemur’s Island. They did great! During the time reserved for the presentation, i.e. 1 p.m. to 2.30 p.m., they persuaded about 260 visitors (mostly young families with kids) to participate in this competition, the best of these receiving small souvenirs. Even elderly visitors were making heart-warming commentaries about the event, applauding the zoo for being interested in the topic of forests and assisting the deepening of knowledge concerning this issue. The scientists even arranged for on-ground scooter drives for visitors. They were rewarded for their efforts via running a special evening safari ride narrated by Milan Syrucek.
Thursday – The young scientists were assisting with cleaning the indoor enclosures and feeding the programme animals at the Darwin’s Centre. The remainder of their daily schedule was filled with study trips, with first visiting the giraffe house, where they were allowed to watch Reticulated Giraffes from face to face using a special platform and hear interesting stories from keeper Jiri Kabat, this concluded with a presentation of giraffe’s skull and bones. The next trip was one to an animal kitchen where the zoo staff prepares animal diets on a daily basis, the team learning from Radka Marikova how this is done. The route then continued to the Safari Camp, a place of discussion with Dana Holeckova, Zoo Director. A special evening tour was guided by Ilona Kratochvilova. She showed the scientists the Water World house where they discussed reptiles and fishes, with subsequent visit to the exhibit of Golden Lion Tamarins and other primates. The tour closed at the carnivore house.
Friday – In the morning, the scientists worked with ponies, overseen by Jana Nerudova and Ilona Kratochvilova. Afterwards, Tomas Hajnys answered questions that were raised throughout the week and discussed all about the reptiles with the team. Then there was a talk about elephants with keeper Josef Brokes who also clarified the question concerning the number of existing elephant species. After the lunch, exhibits for feline and canine carnivores were showed the team round by Zdenka Petrzilkova, a meeting with the Serval cub called Linda being a great event for the young scientists. This was topped off by a guided tour behind the scenes throughout the Water World house, enriched with the good sense of humour of Pavel Moucha, the tour included an educational talk and presentation of some of the snake species.
Saturday – The programme’s culmination point was about fifty veteran cars of diverse brands being admired in the Safari Camp car park on 6 August 2011 as part of the 10th annual “The Ride from Dvur to Ratiborice” event. Before the vintage cars started to drive through the African Safari park, the zoo staff said goodbye, assuring the team that everyone would feel more than happy to see young naturalists at the zoo again the year after.
