History

HISTORICAL SUMMARY

1804 - The proprietor of the Lukovské domain, Count Joseph Jan Seilern, had a simple pheasantry built on a hilltop called “Leschna” and started raising pheasants. 

1810 - Until the year shown is where the original Lešná chateau stood. 

1887 - 1894 - Count František Seilern had the current chateau built. 

1890 - Besides raising pheasants and partridges, breeding of heavy Belgian horses was introduced. 

1929 - 1930 - Count Josef Seilern had introduced the breeding of forest range and exotic animals at Lešná. The area of today’s Zoo was the home of deer, small antelopes, cranes and emus. The large heated greenhouses housed free flying exotic birds. 

1939 - Growth of this private Zoo ended with the death of Joseph Seilern and the subsequent WWII events. 

1945 - Nationalization of the chateau property by the state took place. 

1948 - Zoo was officially opened to the public. 

1960s - The Zoo became famous for breeding exotic pheasants and emus. 

1970s - 1980s - Significant expansion in the type of animals bred there (Rhinoceroses, Buffaloes, Chimpanzees, Polar Bears, Guerezas – the Abyssinian Black-and-white Colobus). The appearance and quality of the runs however, was at a very low level. 

1990s - We are starting to build a modern Zoo with ecological structures to protect the environment, modernize municipal networks, rejuvenate the Chateau Park, and reconstruct the Chateau´s outside shell.

1995 - today - This is the Zoo´s modernization period: The area was divided according to continents, and construction begins on new, spacious exhibits with multiple types of animals, walk-through runs and aviaries together with the Zoo support facilities. The Zlín Zoo gains membership in WAZA and EAZA organizations.



SUMMARY OF THE MOST IMPORTANT EXHIBITS BUILT IN 1996 - 2009:

 
1996 - Pond of gibbons
1997 - Gorillas exhibit, Island of Ruffed Lemurs
1998 - Exhibit of Humboldt penguins, The pavilion of African wildlife
2000 - Exhibit of South American Sealions reconstruction
2001 - Exhibit of Asian fauna, Walk through birds exhibit
2003 - Elephant pavilion, Walk through lemurs catta exhibit, A trail for emu runners
2004 - Amazonia, Lions exhibit
2005 - Exhibit for Vicunas
2006 - Tropical Yucatan hall
2008 - Exhibit for Flamingos, Indoor Exhibit of Anteaters
2009 - Vultures and Mongoose exhibit
2010 - Ethiopia