How does the giant tortoise differ from the elephant tortoise? And how can you distinguish the Pinzon elephant tortoise from the Santa Cruz tortoise? Visitors can now learn interesting facts about these ancient reptiles while watching the melon feasts. „It definitely adds variety to their diet. Besides the sweet flesh, they also enjoy the green rind, making it a completely waste-free feeding,” says the senior reptile keeper Nataša Velenská.
Every Wednesday until September, her charges consume thirty kilograms of melons at a total live weight of three tons. During her captivating presentation, you can observe a group of ten males – two elephant tortoises and eight giant tortoises. But the females in the adjacent enclosures or in the pavilion won’t miss out either – the keeper also distributes melons to them after the commented feeding.
Commented feedings and animal encounters now take place daily until the end of August. Visitors can literally have their program in their pocket – in the Zoo Prague mobile app. It also includes options such as purchasing discounted tickets or an interactive map for navigation around the area.
Program of all commented feedings and encounters
- 10:30 feeding of aardvarks – African House
- 10:30 feeding of kangaroos – Darwin Crater
- 10:45 feeding of meerkats – African House
- 11:00 encounter with capybaras and anteaters
- 11:00 encounter with giraffes – African House
- 11:00 feeding of penguins and ducks
- 12:00 encounter with gorillas – Méfou Center
- 13:00 feeding of South American tapirs – Tapirs at Bororo Reserve (only on Saturdays and Sundays)
- 13:00 melon Wednesdays with giant tortoises – outdoor exhibit by the Giant Tortoise Pavilion, near the lower cable car station
- 13:30 demonstration of sea lion training – Sea Lions (except Fridays)
- 13:30 feeding of Salvadorian monitor lizards – Pavilion by the giant tortoises (only on Saturdays)
- 14:00 feeding of reptiles – Pavilion of Snakes and Reptiles (only on Saturdays and Sundays)
- 14:00 feeding of wombats – Darwin Crater
- 14:00 feeding of Przewalski's horses – Gobi
- 14:30 feeding of elephants – Elephant Valley
- 15:00 feeding of gorillas – Dja Reserve
- 15:00 feeding of lemurs – Lemur Island
- 15:30 feeding of hippos – Hippo Pavilion
- 16:00 encounter with devils – Darwin Crater
- 18:30 feeding of Indian gharials – Chambal (only on Sundays)
