Prague will modify the street by the northern entrance to the zoo

Prague - Prague will continue with the improvements around the zoo. It will invest a total of 90 million crowns into the street Pod Hrachovkou near its northern entrance, a plan that was approved by the Prague councilors on Friday. This investment follows the zoo's plans to develop primarily the upper part of the area, which is not threatened by floods.

The first phase of the improvements to the street Pod Hrachovkou, including the intersection with the street K Bohnicím for 45 million crowns, is nearly completed, and the councilors approved funding for further improvements for the same amount. The street lacked a sidewalk, which has now been supplemented with a bike path. A new bus stop has also been created on the street K Bohnicím.

The street Pod Hrachovkou runs between two parts of the northern area of the zoo. Visitors cross it on a bridge to reach the African pavilion. It is also the access road to the northern visitor parking lot.

The city does not want to contribute to investments in the lower part of the zoo, where large water can threaten the pavilions. The last investment was the giant salamander pavilion for more than 23 million crowns, which, however, considers the possibility of flooding.

Last year, elephants and hippos were moved from the flood zone in the lower part of the zoo. Their new pavilion in the upper part of the zoo, named the Valley of Elephants, cost 500 million crowns. In the former enclosure of these large mammals, a children's area with climbing structures opened this July. In the future, gorillas are also set to be relocated from the flood zone. The city estimates 121 million crowns for their new home.

Floods affected the pavilion in 2002 and 2013. During the floods in 2002, evacuation of the animals was necessary, and they were temporarily housed in the zoo in Dvůr Králové for several months. The last flood saw the gorillas surviving in an elevated tower.