Prague Zoo opened its gates on 28 September 1931 in the Troja district along the Vltava River, founded under director Jiří Janda. Nearly a century later, it has grown into one of the most respected zoos in the world, prized for its hilly, naturalistic terrain and pioneering conservation work with endangered species like the Przewalski’s horse.
The zoo has earned international acclaim, including a seventh-place ranking among the world’s best zoos from Forbes Traveler in 2007 and a fifth-place spot on TripAdvisor’s global rankings. It survived a catastrophic setback in the 2002 European floods, which killed 134 animals, and rebuilt into the most-visited zoo in the Czech Republic, drawing more than 1.4 million guests annually.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Troja, Prague, Czech Republic
- Opened: September 28, 1931
- Size: 58 hectares (140 acres)
- Species: About 676 species, roughly 5,000+ animals
- Annual visitors: Over 1.4 million
- Famous for: Przewalski’s horse conservation and 2002 flood recovery
The Zoo Experience
Prague Zoo’s hillside layout along the Vltava River is split into terraces connected by a chairlift, giving visitors sweeping views over Troja as they move between exhibits. Signature attractions include the Indonesian Jungle pavilion, one of the largest indoor tropical habitats in Europe, home to orangutans, Komodo dragons, and free-flying fruit bats, and the Elephant Valley, where a herd of Asian elephants can be observed along a half-kilometer path.
The zoo has been a global leader in Przewalski’s horse conservation since it began breeding the species in 1932; it has kept the International Studbook for the Przewalski’s Horse since 1959 and has sent horses bred in Prague to reintroduction projects in Mongolia and Kazakhstan. It has also recorded rare captive breeding successes, including the world’s first captive-hatched crowned (brahminy) river turtle in 2012 and, in 2023, a Chinese pangolin.
History and Recovery
The zoo’s history includes one of its darkest chapters: the August 2002 European floods submerged much of the lower zoo, killing 134 animals including an elephant, a lion, a gorilla, and four hippopotamuses. A sea lion named Gaston became internationally famous after being swept out of his enclosure during the disaster, eventually turning up in Germany.
Rebuilt and expanded in the decades since, Prague Zoo now ranks among the top-visited attractions in the Czech Republic, trailing only Prague Castle in yearly visitor numbers, and continues to be recognized among the world’s elite zoos for both animal welfare and conservation research.
Explore more: Explore more top zoos and aquariums.
Prague Zoo FAQs
When did Prague Zoo open?
Prague Zoo opened to the public on September 28, 1931, in the Troja district of Prague.
How many animals live at Prague Zoo?
The zoo houses roughly 5,000 animals representing about 676 species, including many threatened and endangered species.
Is Prague Zoo considered one of the best zoos in the world?
Yes. Forbes Traveler ranked it seventh-best in the world in 2007, and it has ranked as high as fifth-best globally on TripAdvisor.
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Photo: Miaow Miaow / Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.