In a few days, it will be five months since we launched on-line video transmissions from the okapi pavilion in the Zoo Dvur Kralove nad Labem, a joint project of Czech Radio and the zoo called "A Young of the Forest". We were waiting for an okapi to be born.
The new year started happily for all inhabitants of the okapi pavilion. In fact, the keepers appreciate the most - however boring it may seem to us - when it is business as usual, without any unexpected developments.
The Christmas Eve is coming fast, followed by the Christmas Day and St. Stephen's Day - simply, it's Christmas, a time when we more than ever think about our dearest.
More or less intensive preparations for Christmas are in full swing in most households. No wonder that some of our users wanted to know how the okapi pavilion is preparing for the holidays and whether the okapis will enjoy some special treats they otherwise do not receive. Ludek Culik gave us the details.
It might seem that days in the okapi pavilion are rather dull. The daily routine is set and must be carried out without exceptions - to clean up the stables, prepare fresh food, and to ensure physical and psychological well-being of the okapis.
The okapis are staying indoors in this wintry weather. Otherwise nothing has changed: little Ewango frequents the exposition area in the afternoons with his mother and prospers very well.
The Young of the Forest Project has been running for a quarter of the year now, enabling you to watch the development of a young okapi from birth and the first trembling steps.
There have been no new developments in the okapi pavilion over last weekend. Ewango regularly visits the outer enclosure, having explored the whole place with his mother.
Like other animal species bred in captivity, okapis, too, need enrichment as part of their daily routine. It livens up their rather dull life in a zoo while helping them act as naturally as possible.
At last - little Ewango started taking a regular albeit short walks outside with his mum.
Ewango has waited for chilly and rainy weather as the ideal conditions for his first walk outside.
It has been exactly one month today since little Ewango was born.
Ewango is getting used to his new name as well as the okapi pavilion. Whereas he knows the stables and indoor enclosure very well, he has been reluctant to enter the outdoor enclosure, regardless of his mother's decent pushing. He simply ignores the last warm days of this year.
On Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 4 p. m., an official naming party for our little okapi took place at the okapi pavilion in the Dvur Kralove Zoo.
Hello to all okapi fans,
the little okapi was weighed again today and the scales showed 39 kg. He is quite lively, jumping around in the enclosure like a lamb and running around Etana. However, when we open the door to his refuge, he rushes in immediately.
An official naming day party for the newborn okapi, a rare forest giraffe, will be held on Thursday, October 9, 2008, at 4 p. m., at the okapi pavilion of the Dvur Kralove Zoo. The event is to be attended by all members of the Hradec Kralove city council. The patrons are going to be the head of the Hradec Kralove regional administration, Pavel Bradik; chairmen of all political factions in the Hradec Kralove city council; and Miss Blond International Jana Prihodova. A name for the okapi will be chosen from suggestions submitted to an on-line competition on the projects website at www.rozhlas.cz/mladepralesa. There were dozens of entries. Eleven of them have been short-listed by zoologists and the Dvur Kralove Zoo. The best one will be chosen by the patrons. Its author will receive a gift package from the zoo including a plush okapi and free tickets to the zoo; the remaining ten will receive a plush okapi.
Patience in training the little okapi bears fruit. The young has learned to step on the scales, which makes it possible to monitor its weight gains.
Every day at 12.30 p.m., the newborn okapi with his mother can walk in the inner enclosure where he is getting acquainted with the environment as well as the glass wall and action behind it. When he gets bored with visitors, he walks away to hide in his miniature forest.
We have received many questions regarding developments in the okapi pavilion from our audience both home and abroad. Zoologist Ludek Culik answers the most interesting ones in our today's interview.
Developments in the pavilion are taking a fast pace. This afternoon, the young okapi briefly entered the main enclosure, showing itself to the visitors for the first time. Since Tuesday evening, it has been using its "bedroom" in the corner of the stall. Whenever Etana needs to leave for a while, she can be sure the baby is safe.