Prague Zoo Begins Construction on Arctic Pavilion for Polar Bears and Seals

Prague Zoo has officially begun construction on a new Arctic pavilion, which will feature state-of-the-art enclosures for polar bears and harbour seals.

The project was announced by Pavel Brandl, curator of mammal breeding, on Saturday during the zoo’s 94th season opening. The event included a ceremonial laying of the foundation stone for the Arctic exhibition complex.

The pavilion will consist of three enclosures: one with a watercourse for polar bears and two for harbour seals. According to the zoo’s director, Miroslav Bobek, the facility will offer visitors a unique underwater view of the bears, enhancing the educational and observational experience.

Bobek emphasised that the new pavilion aligns with the latest research on polar bear care while continuing Prague Zoo’s long-standing tradition of breeding them. The zoo has housed polar bears since 1932 and achieved a world-first in 1942 with the successful artificial rearing of a cub.

Despite these milestones, breeding polar bears remains complex. Female bears sometimes reject or harm their young, and replicating their milk for artificial rearing poses a significant challenge.

The construction is expected to take around three years and cost 755 million CZK—well below the initial estimate of over one billion CZK.

Spanning 8,000 square meters in the zoo’s northwest section near Gočárový domů, the Arctic complex will include not only animal enclosures but also visitor-friendly spaces such as a restaurant and other facilities.

Alongside the Arctic pavilion announcement, Prague Zoo unveiled a new exhibit featuring critically endangered lobsters, named Ball’s Pyramid after the world’s tallest sea stack, where the species was discovered in the 1960s.

The zoo has also introduced an interactive programme for visitors, offering face painting at the Gočár Houses and Bororo Reservation, an Arctic-themed play area, and guided feeding sessions.

Guests can watch feedings of meerkats, ring-tailed lemurs, and South African sea lions, including their popular veterinary training demonstrations.

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