Mysuru: “Zoos are not just for education on biodiversity, but also sources for breeding rare endangered species. They can play a major role in conserving the species in danger and protect their natural habitats too,” said Mr Miroslav Bobek, Director, Prague Zoo, Czech Republic, here on Monday.
He was one of over 30 zoo directors and over 20 resource persons participating in the four-day national conference on Indian zoos, hosted by the Mysuru Zoo on the occasion of its 125 year anniversary, in association with the Central Zoo Authority.
Mr Bobek said that one of the popular projects taken up at the Prague Zoo is not just to breed gorillas, but also to develop a love for the animal and other species among forest inhabitants and save western lowland gorillas, which were otherwise poached. The project also dwells on how to protect tropical rainforests and the gorillas’ habitats in Central Africa.
He said that they are trying to contribute to building a non-predatory relationship with nature among inhabitants of forest villages by raising their awareness on the importance of nature. While the Prague Zoo has paid special attention to schoolchildren, books involving tales on gorillas and other educational materials are distributed among them.
Their project, “The Wandering Bus”, aims at it too. The special bus takes children and people from forest villages in the vicinity of Dja Biosphere Reserve on excursions to wildlife rescue stations at Limbe or Mefou, to closely watch gorillas and participate in an educational programme, ensuring that they acquire an unforgettable experience during the trip that would last in their memories, he said.
