2024-02-19 01:31:47
- Also due to arrive this year are 5 Rusty Australian Kangaroos
- The star will be a new type of monkey
The dwarf hippopotamus Emilio will soon get a bride to start a family in their new apartment in the zoo in Sofia.
Last year his home was completely renovated and he has two pools – in the outer and in the inner part of the enclosure. Its spacious garden also has trees, shrubs and bamboo, as well as comfortable shelters and a sandy resting area. In nature, this type of hippopotamus inhabits humid tropical forests and the animal needs a heated area, and therefore in winter it will be able to observe only in the inner part of the home, where it is also provided with heating. The mini hippopotamus is one of the protected species that we breed. This species is found in very few zoos. Its natural habitats are the wet forests and swamps of West Africa, which are disappearing and its population is almost entirely supported by zoos. Negotiations are currently underway for the lady, and last year the international coordinator for the species approved the improvements we made in the enclosure, explained the director of the Sofia Zoo, Dobromir Borislavov.
This year they also expect a group of 5 rusty Australian kangaroos with which to renew and strengthen the species. Their new enclosure is currently being prepared.
The star new addition will also be a new type of monkey. I will not say what exactly, so that it will be a surprise and everything will be fine, Borislavov also said.
The children’s greatest favourites, the monkeys, live in five-star conditions, and their housing in the Sofia Zoo is the best in the Balkans. The primate sector was completely revamped. It has 14 outer enclosures that are 13 times larger than the old ones. They feature bamboo trees and are furnished with swings, climbing, resting and playing facilities. And visitors can see 11 attractive and interesting species. Among the rarest and most valuable are the white-handed gibbons, siamangs, lion macaques, cat lemurs and both species of marmosets.
In March, the zoo will celebrate 40 years since it has been at its new address in Hladilnika district. “In the beginning it was just concrete and asphalt, but since then many things have happened, the main thing is that the zoo has turned from a concrete site into a real garden, which is also a zoo. There are also many improvements in it to make them feel comfortable the animals – beds, water areas, play facilities. In May, we will try to celebrate both anniversaries with one event, because it is also 136 years since its establishment,” said the director of the zoo.
Last year, the zoo became part of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA). We had prescriptions to fulfill and our ambition this year is to fulfill as many as possible. There will be a lot of work and a lot of improvements to the enclosures, he added.