Prague Zoo’s Pangopup Has Been Named

Unveiling the name for the second pangopup in Europe. From left: Prague’s deputy mayor, Jana Komrsková, Prague Zoo’s director, Miroslav Bobek, the director of Bidfood, Lukáš Dědek. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Miroslav Bobek, Prague Zoo’s director said, “The little pangopup, known as Connie from today, is doing very well indeed. Compared to Šiška’s development last year, she is heavier, already beyond the 430 grams mark, and she is also starting to ride on her mother's tail earlier than Šiška. We have been supporting pangolin conservation for many years now, both in Central Africa and in Southeast Asia, and the Prague pangolins are the perfect ambassadors for their wild relatives.”

The celebrations kicked off with the band Laura a její tygři (Laura and Her Tigers) who played together with children from the Ústecký Bambini choir. They mainly played songs from their new album Zoo Zoo!, and the audience really liked the song The Pangolin and the Bat.

Jana Komrsková, Prague City Council's Deputy Mayor for the Environment said, “Connie is a beautiful name for our pangolin. It will help raise public awareness of just how endangered pangolins are and hopefully spark interest in these unique mammals. Prague Zoo is just one of two places in Europe where you can see them, which is testament to the excellent standard of our zoo. I urge everyone to come and see for themselves just how beautiful Connie, her parents and her older sister are.”

The name was unveiled by the director of Bidfood, Lukáš Dědek, alongside the zoo's director, Miroslav Bobek, and the deputy mayor, Jana Komrsková.

The much-loved band Laura and Her Tigers played several animal-themed songs accompanied by the children’s choir Ústecký Bambini. Naturally the song The Pangolin and the Bat, with which the group opened with, was a must. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo

Lukáš Dědek said, “Prague Zoo is a truly heartfelt matter for us. Our cooperation stretches back many years, for example, we’re now delivering ice to cool down both the animals and the visitors. The great thing about Prague Zoo is that they also protect the animals in their natural habitat, which we think is great. That’s one of the reasons we gave financial support this spring for repairing the acclimatisation centre for Przewalski's horses in central Kazakhstan, which was destroyed by floods. I am also honoured to be associated with another endangered mammal, the scaly pangolins, which Prague Zoo is successfully breeding and working to protect.”

Visitors can find the Chinese pangolin in the nocturnal section of the Indonesian Jungle. Mother Run Hou Tang and her month-old pangopup Connie are in the middle exhibit. In the first exhibit as you walk round the pavilion, next to the Sunda slow loris, you will find the year-and-a-half-old Šiška, while in the last exhibit, opposite the earless monitor lizard, lives the male, Guo Bao.

Nowadays visitors can see little Connie riding on the back or tail of her mother Run Hou Tang. The pangopup is most active after 9 am. Photo Petr Hamerník, Prague Zoo