On Sunday, February 2, the female short-tailed pangolin named Šiška will celebrate her second birthday at Prague Zoo. The zoo invites everyone to experience a day filled with fun and learning, celebrating one of the greatest achievements in the zoo’s history.
Šiška, the first pangolin baby born in Europe, has become a symbol of the successful breeding of this rare species. Her birthday provides a fantastic opportunity to highlight the importance of pangolin breeding in captivity and to celebrate the story that brought hope to the world for the protection of this endangered species.
“The raising of Šiška is one of the greatest successes in the history of Prague Zoo. Her second birthday is an opportunity to appreciate the significance of pangolin conservation and the purpose of breeding them in captivity,” said Miroslav Bobek, Director of Prague Zoo.
The celebration begins on Sunday, February 2, at 3:00 PM. Visitors can look forward to a special program, which will be opened by book influencer Lucie Zelinková. Following that, visitors will learn all about the successful raising of Šiška and the challenges faced by her caretakers. Mammal curator Pavel Brandl and pangolin keeper David Vala will share the story of how the first European pangolin came into the world and provide details about her care. Miroslav Bobek, Director of Prague Zoo, will also reveal what Šiška can expect in the coming years.
After the discussion, visitors will move to the nocturnal exhibition, which will be open in the afternoon. At 3:30 PM, a feeding demonstration will begin, where visitors can observe not only Šiška but also her father Guo Ba, her mother Run Hou Tang, and her sister Connie. This exceptional exhibition is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the life of pangolins, both in captivity and in the wild.
Pangolins are the most illegally trafficked mammals in the world due to demand for their meat and scales. All species of Asian and African pangolins are considered endangered, with the short-tailed pangolin, housed at Prague Zoo, classified as critically endangered.
Prague Zoo (Zoologická zahrada hl. m. Prahy)
Website | Facebook | Instagram
