Awards together with those who awarded the awards. From left: head of marketing at Bidfood Czech Republic Jan Kratina, primate breeder Pavel Vodehnal, Remobil project manager Jiří Šmejkal, mammal breeder Pavla Hanzlíková, son of colonel gšt. Milana Laniak Marek Laniak, breeder of sea lions and penguins Helena Rosypalová and director of the Prague Zoo Miroslav Bobek. Photo by Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo
The Prague Zoo awarded the Richard Award to its supporters and supporters. This happened during the traditional meeting of the sponsors of the Prague Zoo and the adoptive parents of its animals.
Great Richard was received by colonel gšt. Armády CR Milan Laniak, Little Richard the company Remobil and Divoké Richard the firm Bidfood Czech Republic. The program also included the announcement of the results of the Fotím competition at the Prague Zoo, a discussion with the Trojans, a musical performance, and special sea lion training.
“It is a pleasure and an honor for me to meet supporters of our zoo from various fields every year. It is not just a crucial help, as was the case this year, for example, with the first-ever transport of Převalský’s horses to Kazakhstan, but also seemingly small support. Every penny and every good idea counts. We all create the zoo together,” said the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek, in his speech.
The Prague Zoo awarded the Velký Richard prize to the deputy commander of the 24th Air Transport Base Prague-Kbely, colonel gšt. Army of the Czech Republic to Milan Laniak. The award, which was accepted on the spot by his son Marek Laniak, was given to him for his long-term cooperation on the Return of Wild Horses project. This was enhanced this year by the first ever transport of Převalský’s horses by CASA military aircraft to Kazakhstan.
Little Richard was received by the company Remobil for the project of collecting unnecessary mobile phones. African ecosystems, which are inhabited by critically endangered gorillas and nutcrackers, face the extraction of precious metals, which are used, among other things, to make mobile phones. Their recycling thus indirectly contributes to the protection of endangered species. From 2023, the Prague Zoo cooperates with Remobile not only on the collection of phones, but also regularly on educational events in its premises. Project manager Jiří Šmejkal accepted the award.
Divoký Richard was awarded by Bidfood Czech Republic for significant support of the We help them survive project and long-term cooperation with the Prague Zoo. For example, the company supported the reconstruction of the reintroduction center for Převalský horses in Alibi in central Kazakhstan, which was devastated by spring floods. Jan Kratina, head of marketing, received the award for Bidfood.
The release of Převalský’s horses in the Golden Steppe in central Kazakhstan at the beginning of June this year. It was for the support of the Return of Wild Horses project that the Prague Zoo awarded the Big Richard and the Wild Richard awards today. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo
Along with the director of the Prague Zoo, Miroslav Bobek, the Richard prizes were also presented by breeders of those animals that are the most popular among adoptive parents and sponsors – e.g. the Humboldt penguin, the osprey or the lowland gorilla. After all, visitors will find a graphic showing the popularity of animals according to this scale pasted on the Information Center at the main entrance. It is the so-called wordcloud, i.e. the larger the type of animal shown, the more popular that animal is among patrons.
The entire event was accompanied by energetic live music performed by the City Police Dixie Band. More than two thousand people arrived at the Prague Zoo today, who did not miss a special commented performance and training of South African sea lions.
The Little Richard award went to Remobil, whose initiative contributes to the protection of endangered animal species in African rainforests. Pictured is a critically endangered eastern gorilla in the Congolese Kahuzi-Biega National Park, where Prague Zoo has been involved in the We help them survive project for many years. Photo by Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo