Josef Stehlík, former director of Ostrava Zoo, dies at 83

Josef Stehlík, the former director of the Ostrava Zoo, has passed away at the age of 83. He died on Sunday, August 23.

Stehlík served as the director of the zoo from 1993 to 2004, leading the institution through a period of significant financial, personnel, and material instability following social changes in the early 1990s. Under his leadership, the zoo underwent a stabilization process that included repairing dilapidated buildings and modernizing infrastructure.

Key developments during his tenure included the construction of various new exhibits, such as bird of prey aviaries, lynx enclosures, and parrot aviaries. A major milestone of his era was the construction of the elephant pavilion, which was considered one of the most modern in Europe at the time of its completion. Additionally, the zoo gained membership in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) during his leadership.