International in situ projects
You can find a list of all the in situ projects supported as part of the “3 CZK for Wildlife“ program here.
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Ostrava Zoo projects in the Czech Republic:
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In situ projects supported by the Ostrava Zoo
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European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) Campaigns
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The World Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Strategy (WZACS)
- The WZACS can be downloaded from WAZA's website: www.waza.org
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Current research projects by the Ostrava Zoo
- Suckling behaviour of captive plains zebra (Equus burchellii)
- The influence of artificial light on the welfare of nine primate species in Ostrava Zoo
- Analysis of infant mortality in highly endangered Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) - Project was successfully finished in 2007 and its results were published in Biological Conservation (139 /3-4/: pp. 457-461).
Conservation breeding of the barn-owl at the Ostrava Zoo
Myths about the barn-owl
The barn-owl (Tyto alba) is one subspecies from a total of 36 subspecies represented in the Czech Republic - the Central European Barn-Owl (Tyto alba guttata). In the past, it was a common species found in the Czech Republic. It was attached to several superstitions beliefs because of its bond to human residences. For example, it was believed that the corpse of a barn-owl attached to doors would protect the cattle inside from devils.
Truth about the barn-owl
For the past few decades, barn-owl numbers have decreased significantly. Nowadays, it is part of a group of critically endagered species in the Czech Republic. In many regions, it has disappeared completely, in others only adult individuals have been seen without any nests. The continued declining number of barn-owls has led to an increase of interest in this species and its protection. In 1997, the barn-owl was declared Bird of the Year. In 1998, the Czech Barn Owl Study Group was founded. This group is dedicated to the protection and research of this species in the Czech Republic.
Reasons for the declining number of barn-owls (and other owl species):
- Lower number of natural nesting places (older farmhouses and homesteads)
- Reduced food supply due to the use of agricultural pesticides
- Drowning in different water areas with vertical walls (swimming pools, barrels)
- Dying in vertical tubes (ventilation shafts, air conditioning tubes, chimneys)
- Collisions with vehicles on roads and railways
- Cold winters
Conservation breeding of barn-owls at the Ostrava Zoo
- The Ostrava Zoo takes part in the conservation of this rare owl species. We have made intensit efforts to breed the barn-owl since 1995. By 2007, we managed to rear more than 300 owls. During the course of this year, eight offspring have hatched from our four breeding pairs. Almost all offspring are offered free of charge for reintroduction - to support the population of free barn-owls in the wild of the Czech Republic. The Ostrava Zoo participates in setting free 20 to 30 offspring of barn-owl back to the wild every year.
- The first possibility of reintroduction is when the barn-owls are fully-grown and flightworthy, but not yet fully capable of providing for themselves. Thus, they are partly fed by humans until they learn how to hunt on their own. Without this help, most of them would die of hunger. The offspring reared in the Ostrava Zoo are handed on to the specialists of The Station for saving animals in Bartosovice in Moravia, who are specialized in setting the animals free.
- The second possibility is to place the newborn offspring in the nest of wild owls if their clutch was suitably small. This method is used, for example, in South Moravia in cooperation with local ornitologists. To avoid forming any bonds between the offspring and humans, all manipulation is conducted with minimal human contact.
Hope for the barn-owl
Thanks to this increased attention, the barn-owl population has recently become stabilised. Nowadays, the owls are settling mainly in the lowlands and lower uplands throughout the country. Important conditions for the survival of this species is not only a high number of released barn-owls, but mainly the provisioning of enough nesting opportunities and an adequate food supply.
For more information please visit the Czech Barn Owl Study Group website: